This is a great little meme that is going round. Cal tagged me on it after she was tagged by Tine.
The Rules
The idea is to pick 5 and complete the sentences, then pass this little meme on to 3 more of your blog pals! But no tag backs!
If I could be a scientist…
If I could be a farmer…
If I could be a musician…
If I could be a doctor…
If I could be a painter…
If I could be a gardener…
If I could be a missionary…
If I could be a chef…
If I could be an architect…
If I could be a linguist…
If I could be a psychologist…
If I could be a librarian…
If I could be an athlete…
If I could be a lawyer…
If I could be an inn-keeper…
If I could be a professor…
If I could be a writer…
If I could be a llama-rider…
If I could be a bonnie pirate…
If I could be an astronaut…
If I could be a world famous blogger…
If I could be a justice on any one court in the world…
If I could be married to any current famous political figure…
And I was sooooo glad I did not get tagged by tine or Leslie or Wanda or Brenda!!
If I could be a musician….I would play the Piano better than anyone who had ever lived. I can find middle C and that’s about it.
If I could be an astronaut…I would want to be on the first spaceship to land on another planet. Actually I would want to be on one to leave the Galaxy, and discover what is really out there BEYOND. I LOVE space.
If I could be a scientist…I would be a geologist. Study the Earth and how it was formed. Maybe an astro-physicist.
If I could be a writer…I would want to write the best selling novel about Women settling the North American Continent, Exploring new places, and being the first to climb Mt. McKinley.
If I could be a linguist…I would study the different languages and how they change from region to region. From “eh? To ya’ll”
Now I tag Phyllis, Katerina and Kate, but Kate will be late she is away right now.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Nevada....
When you drive the Highways from Reno, Nevada to Fernley-Fallon, you pass the occasional house, bar,or brothel. When You get into Fallon on US highway 50, you have hit the 5th biggest town in Nevada. Reno , Las Vegas, Carson City, something else and Fallon! There is where the US 95 from the Canadian border to the Mexican border, crosses US 50 from East to West Coast. And from there heading East, you get ZIP!!! Nada!! Oh I lied...5 miles out of Fallon is the Brothel at Salt Wells. Sign advertises GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS, and it has a 6 foot chain link fence all the way around it.
You continue on, and in about 50 miles you reach Middle Gate, Which is a Bar, gas Pump and Porta pottie.
middle gate
This is the view to the North from Middlegate. Nice Huh? Makes you wonder why you are heading there.
mg2
This is the view to the east. Charming eh what? Us 50 is known as the loneliest road in America. This shows you why. From Middle gate to Austin is another 45 miles. SO from Fallon to Austin is 95 miles. And NOTHING but middlegate on the road. The Cattle run freely, just like the old west. No fences.
Dixie valley
This is another view of the road to Austin., This is Dixie Valley. The US Navy has the bombing range and the TOP GUN flying school in Fallon, so they play their war games in this valley. When you are watching JAG or PENSACOLA NAS The fight scenes are filmed in this valley. It is nothing to be driving 95 miles an hour down this road, and see an f-14 or an F-15 shoot right across the road just about fence post high. Scares the living crap outa ya it does!
US 50
This is just another view to show you that really, there is NOTHING on this road. once you hit Austin, there is an old mining town, and a few restaurants and gas stations and I think there is still a hotel there, but not much else. Then you drive for another 100 miles to Eureka, where the Railroad museum is. Then another 90 miles to the Utah border. When they say the loneliest road in America, They mean it. No Cell phone reception, no pay phones, no gas stations to speak of, no houses. Just Cattle and sand, and tumble weeds and Sage brush. For mile after mile after mile. Cold and nasty in the winter, and hotter than Hades in the summer. It took a very special person to cross this in a wagon pulled by oxen or mules! It follows the Pony Express route, and every year they recreate the ride, and it is brutal on the ones that ride it. I'll stick with my SUV and AC!!
You continue on, and in about 50 miles you reach Middle Gate, Which is a Bar, gas Pump and Porta pottie.
middle gate
This is the view to the North from Middlegate. Nice Huh? Makes you wonder why you are heading there.
mg2
This is the view to the east. Charming eh what? Us 50 is known as the loneliest road in America. This shows you why. From Middle gate to Austin is another 45 miles. SO from Fallon to Austin is 95 miles. And NOTHING but middlegate on the road. The Cattle run freely, just like the old west. No fences.
Dixie valley
This is another view of the road to Austin., This is Dixie Valley. The US Navy has the bombing range and the TOP GUN flying school in Fallon, so they play their war games in this valley. When you are watching JAG or PENSACOLA NAS The fight scenes are filmed in this valley. It is nothing to be driving 95 miles an hour down this road, and see an f-14 or an F-15 shoot right across the road just about fence post high. Scares the living crap outa ya it does!
US 50
This is just another view to show you that really, there is NOTHING on this road. once you hit Austin, there is an old mining town, and a few restaurants and gas stations and I think there is still a hotel there, but not much else. Then you drive for another 100 miles to Eureka, where the Railroad museum is. Then another 90 miles to the Utah border. When they say the loneliest road in America, They mean it. No Cell phone reception, no pay phones, no gas stations to speak of, no houses. Just Cattle and sand, and tumble weeds and Sage brush. For mile after mile after mile. Cold and nasty in the winter, and hotter than Hades in the summer. It took a very special person to cross this in a wagon pulled by oxen or mules! It follows the Pony Express route, and every year they recreate the ride, and it is brutal on the ones that ride it. I'll stick with my SUV and AC!!
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Ichthyosaur
One of the many trips I took while I was stationed in Nevada, was up to the ghost town of Berlin, Nevada. It was an old mining town, that the miners just walked away from. What was really the draw to me though, was the Ichthyosaur remains that they had up there.
Now when I say up there, you have to remember that Nevada is high desert, usually in the valleys you are at least 3500 feet up. Nevada has ribs of Mountains, all going N-S so you go WAAAAY up then Waaay down into a valley, then waaay up over a mtn range, then way down into a valley.
Berlin is way up in the Shoshone Mountains. And the remains of these creatures were at the 7500’ level in these Shoshone Mtns. An Ichthyosaur is a giant fish lizard that lived in the Triassic Age. There were about 40 different creatures discovered in the same area.
All of the remains, except one, are still in place where they were found. One specimen was removed and put on display at the Nevada State Museum in Las Vegas. Most of the 36 others were covered and protected for later study. The remains of 8 or 9 individuals are safely exposed inside the ichthyosaur shelter that is open year-round. The site became the Berlin-Ichthyosaur Park in 1970. It is located about 100 miles southeast of Fallon, Nevada. The geology of the area is complex to say the least. Now in the middle of a dry, sage brush covered desert, it is hard to imagine that 200 million years ago an ocean covered these rocks, or that hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold and silver were mined next to the fossils of these giant marine predators. At more than 15 meters (50+ feet in length, and 40 tons, Shonisaurus popularis was for many years the largest known ichthyosaur in the world, and is still the largest ichthyosaur known from the United States. The recent recovery of the remains of a 23 meter long Icthyosaur in Canada has dramatically shown that even larger marine reptiles have existed but does not take away from the paleontological importance of these large, late Triassic ichthyosaurs. The current ichthyosaur shelter was built over the site in 1966 to protect the fossils from further weathering. No one really knows exactly how they got there but one theory holds that they represent a school of ichthyosaurs that were beached and died together like a group of stranded whales. Another is that they were trapped in a shallow embayment and died one by one over a longer period of time. The latest theory is that they died and were buried in a deep ocean shelf environment. In any case, the skeletons are generally oriented along a north-south axis, suggesting that currents or tides played some part in deciding their final resting place. Most of the skeletons are incomplete, with the most easily detachable parts missing. The condition of some remains suggests scavenging or an extended exposure to the elements, while others appear to have been buried relatively rapidly.
Ichthyosaurs - Mysterious Reptiles of Ancient Seas.
ichth
Ichthyosaurs (ICK-thee-o-soars) were prehistoric marine reptiles ranging in size from about two to over fifty feet in length. Ichthyosaur was the most highly specialized reptile for life in the ocean. Very fish-like in appearance and locomotion, they bore their young alive and had amazingly large eyes in relation to the rest of the body. These carnivorous reptiles ate free swimming mollusks such as ammonites, squid like creatures, and probably fish. Like all reptiles, Ichthyosaur was air breathing and resembles modern day cetaceans (whales and dolphins to which it is not related) in some of its characteristics.
Shonisaurus popularis
Living at about the same time as the dinosaurs, Ichthyosaur fossils are found on all continents except Antarctica. Their widespread existence and apparent success makes their extinction all the more mysterious. Of all the Ichthyosaurs discovered, the ichthyosaurs at Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park (dubbed Shonisaurus popularis after the Shoshone mountain range in which they occur), are among the largest specimens known reaching fifty feet in length.
The fossilized remains of these Ichthyosaurs were discovered by Dr. Simeon Muller in 1928 in a naturally eroded area of what is now the park. Excavations began in 1954 under the direction of Dr. Charles Camp and Dr. Samuel Welles of the University of California, Berkely. Excavations by Dr. Camp continued through the 1960's with a total of about 40 Ichthyosaurs discovered in various locations throughout the park. In 1984 Shonisaurus popularis became the Nevada State Fossil. Tours of the fossil house give a glimpse not only of this fascinating creature, but a view of the actual excavation conditions encountered in modern paleontology.
I am utterly astounded at the scale of these creatures, and the fact that they died under water, but are now 7500 feet above sea level in the middle of a dry continent. I can not fathom the magnitude of the geological events that forced the seabed they rested on to the heights that they were found. I wenty back to Berlin and the Fossils many times, and each time I was in Awe! The picture below is one of their spines, right out in the open, on top of the mountain. Each one of these vertebrae are the size of a big dinner plate. Imagine swimming in a pool with that guppy!!
spine
Now when I say up there, you have to remember that Nevada is high desert, usually in the valleys you are at least 3500 feet up. Nevada has ribs of Mountains, all going N-S so you go WAAAAY up then Waaay down into a valley, then waaay up over a mtn range, then way down into a valley.
Berlin is way up in the Shoshone Mountains. And the remains of these creatures were at the 7500’ level in these Shoshone Mtns. An Ichthyosaur is a giant fish lizard that lived in the Triassic Age. There were about 40 different creatures discovered in the same area.
All of the remains, except one, are still in place where they were found. One specimen was removed and put on display at the Nevada State Museum in Las Vegas. Most of the 36 others were covered and protected for later study. The remains of 8 or 9 individuals are safely exposed inside the ichthyosaur shelter that is open year-round. The site became the Berlin-Ichthyosaur Park in 1970. It is located about 100 miles southeast of Fallon, Nevada. The geology of the area is complex to say the least. Now in the middle of a dry, sage brush covered desert, it is hard to imagine that 200 million years ago an ocean covered these rocks, or that hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold and silver were mined next to the fossils of these giant marine predators. At more than 15 meters (50+ feet in length, and 40 tons, Shonisaurus popularis was for many years the largest known ichthyosaur in the world, and is still the largest ichthyosaur known from the United States. The recent recovery of the remains of a 23 meter long Icthyosaur in Canada has dramatically shown that even larger marine reptiles have existed but does not take away from the paleontological importance of these large, late Triassic ichthyosaurs. The current ichthyosaur shelter was built over the site in 1966 to protect the fossils from further weathering. No one really knows exactly how they got there but one theory holds that they represent a school of ichthyosaurs that were beached and died together like a group of stranded whales. Another is that they were trapped in a shallow embayment and died one by one over a longer period of time. The latest theory is that they died and were buried in a deep ocean shelf environment. In any case, the skeletons are generally oriented along a north-south axis, suggesting that currents or tides played some part in deciding their final resting place. Most of the skeletons are incomplete, with the most easily detachable parts missing. The condition of some remains suggests scavenging or an extended exposure to the elements, while others appear to have been buried relatively rapidly.
Ichthyosaurs - Mysterious Reptiles of Ancient Seas.
ichth
Ichthyosaurs (ICK-thee-o-soars) were prehistoric marine reptiles ranging in size from about two to over fifty feet in length. Ichthyosaur was the most highly specialized reptile for life in the ocean. Very fish-like in appearance and locomotion, they bore their young alive and had amazingly large eyes in relation to the rest of the body. These carnivorous reptiles ate free swimming mollusks such as ammonites, squid like creatures, and probably fish. Like all reptiles, Ichthyosaur was air breathing and resembles modern day cetaceans (whales and dolphins to which it is not related) in some of its characteristics.
Shonisaurus popularis
Living at about the same time as the dinosaurs, Ichthyosaur fossils are found on all continents except Antarctica. Their widespread existence and apparent success makes their extinction all the more mysterious. Of all the Ichthyosaurs discovered, the ichthyosaurs at Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park (dubbed Shonisaurus popularis after the Shoshone mountain range in which they occur), are among the largest specimens known reaching fifty feet in length.
The fossilized remains of these Ichthyosaurs were discovered by Dr. Simeon Muller in 1928 in a naturally eroded area of what is now the park. Excavations began in 1954 under the direction of Dr. Charles Camp and Dr. Samuel Welles of the University of California, Berkely. Excavations by Dr. Camp continued through the 1960's with a total of about 40 Ichthyosaurs discovered in various locations throughout the park. In 1984 Shonisaurus popularis became the Nevada State Fossil. Tours of the fossil house give a glimpse not only of this fascinating creature, but a view of the actual excavation conditions encountered in modern paleontology.
I am utterly astounded at the scale of these creatures, and the fact that they died under water, but are now 7500 feet above sea level in the middle of a dry continent. I can not fathom the magnitude of the geological events that forced the seabed they rested on to the heights that they were found. I wenty back to Berlin and the Fossils many times, and each time I was in Awe! The picture below is one of their spines, right out in the open, on top of the mountain. Each one of these vertebrae are the size of a big dinner plate. Imagine swimming in a pool with that guppy!!
spine
Monday, April 25, 2005
For Brenda!
hummers
You can not tell by the picture, but there are six tiny little birds trying to fight over the four ports on this feeder. THey were so FAST! I got a blurry one on the right, and two sitting down, but there are three others just out of the picture around front and up on top. I have 4 feeders up right now, (two broke) and they drain them all everyday! The little greedy buggers start their buzzing right in my ear every morning just as the light starts out. I have it hanging right in front of my bedroom window, and I sleep with my head at the window with the window open, and the buzz from their wings does not wake me up, but the 4 cats running over the top of me to get to the window first do. Loki is usually the first one to hit his face on the screen, followed by Chitters and lint. Ethel usually waits until the boys are through being stupid, then she will lay in the window and chatter at them all.
Harriet and Harry have been hogging the suet feeders from Mort and Morticia, but they get their fair share too. I put peanuts out for them but they prefer the beef suet and seed blocks that I use. Lace them with just a touch of Cayene pepper, and they LOVE it. I do not know why.
TOmorrow I need to get some things done in the yard, I need to rake up the hay that was hartvested in my yard on Saturday. It was 18" high and rising, until Mike brought his rider over and cut it down. He did not have time to rake it, so I need to get that up before it kills the grass. (HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!)
Hope you enjoy the hummers Brenda!! I waited and waited until just the right moment to get this for you.
If any of you know of a Fairy Godmother send her my way, I really need to finish painting the inside of my house, And I just keep putting it off. I need HELP, but my family runs when I mention it. I sooooo need the good fairy!!!
Chile Rellenos are NUMMY cold!
I had a hankering for Chili Rellenos, so Since I am the only one in the family that knows how to make them, I always get elected to have the family over when I get these cravings.
Mike had to work, Galen and Tim never come around unless they want something or there is a notice of free food, and Bob did not want to stay since it was just you girls. So Phyllis, Sherry, Donna and I ate Chile Rellenos!!
they are so easy to make, just takes time and it is fast moving.
Canned Whole Chiles
Monterey jack cheese
egg batter
Separate 6 eggs and beat the whites to stiff peaks, then beat the yolks to a light yellow, then sloooooowly pour the yolks into the whites, trying to keep the peaks stiff. When it is all incorporated, add tablespoons of flour (about 4) to the batter.
Open and drain the chilies, stuff them with cheese slices, as full as you want them to be,
dip the chilies into the batter with a slotted spoon until covered. Place into a HOT skillet with about 1/2 " of veggie oil (HOT) cook about 5 min to a side, flip and repeat.
Meanwhile make the sauce...
taco sauce (NOT SALSA)
cornstarch
sugar
water
mix the taco sauce and equal water in a pan, add 1/2 cup sugar, mixed with 4 teaspoons of corn starch (more if it doesn't thicken) and cook until it clears and thickens.
sauce over chilies YUMMY!!!
that is all we had, except for Phyllis' stewed cold tomatoes
I always stuff way too many chilies, and run out of batter, but I like the rellenos cold too with the cold sauce on them. And last time I took the unbattered chilies and wrapped them into a flour tortilla that had been browned on one side, then wrapped it like a burrito and toasted the other side. OH THAT IS SOOOOOO GOOD too!
Guess what I am eating for lunch? yep!! Right now as we type...Want some?
Mike had to work, Galen and Tim never come around unless they want something or there is a notice of free food, and Bob did not want to stay since it was just you girls. So Phyllis, Sherry, Donna and I ate Chile Rellenos!!
they are so easy to make, just takes time and it is fast moving.
Canned Whole Chiles
Monterey jack cheese
egg batter
Separate 6 eggs and beat the whites to stiff peaks, then beat the yolks to a light yellow, then sloooooowly pour the yolks into the whites, trying to keep the peaks stiff. When it is all incorporated, add tablespoons of flour (about 4) to the batter.
Open and drain the chilies, stuff them with cheese slices, as full as you want them to be,
dip the chilies into the batter with a slotted spoon until covered. Place into a HOT skillet with about 1/2 " of veggie oil (HOT) cook about 5 min to a side, flip and repeat.
Meanwhile make the sauce...
taco sauce (NOT SALSA)
cornstarch
sugar
water
mix the taco sauce and equal water in a pan, add 1/2 cup sugar, mixed with 4 teaspoons of corn starch (more if it doesn't thicken) and cook until it clears and thickens.
sauce over chilies YUMMY!!!
that is all we had, except for Phyllis' stewed cold tomatoes
I always stuff way too many chilies, and run out of batter, but I like the rellenos cold too with the cold sauce on them. And last time I took the unbattered chilies and wrapped them into a flour tortilla that had been browned on one side, then wrapped it like a burrito and toasted the other side. OH THAT IS SOOOOOO GOOD too!
Guess what I am eating for lunch? yep!! Right now as we type...Want some?
Friday, April 22, 2005
Spring...
Mt baker
This has got to be one of my most favorite spots on the Island. It is taken from the Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville, Which I will write about one of these days. This is looking out over the Prairie across Penn Cove, and the top of the Island to Mt Baker which is on the mainland right below the Canadian Border. I have loved this Mountain since I was a little girl. Yes David, It is an Active volcano, and in the winter you can see the crater steaming. It has not blown in 200 years though.
The Cemetery is beautiful, and someone with forethought, planted heirloom lilacs there many years ago. Since Lilacs take forever to grow and bloom, the ones I planted 12 years ago, have just a few flowers on them right now.
lilacs
To get my yearly Lilac fix, I go up to the Cemetery and swipe arm loads for my office and my table. I doubt that the owner really cares anymore, been dead a LOOOONG time. Besides, I have an IN with the groundskeeper...Bob.
lilacs
How could anyone resist picking a few of these wonderful blooms? I lived in a cottage when I was first married, that had a 12' hedge of Lilac all around the property, and every spring the whole hedge would be filled with blossoms and the fragrance was wonderful.
I am sitting here typing this at 530 AM because I can't sleep, my back is out again, and all I did is toss and turn. BUT there is a good side to this. I opened the office window for air, and I am listening to the birds wake up. There was one robin, a little while ago chirping quietly, then another and another, and now the whole yard is alive with Robins, singing the morning awake! It is just starting to get light, and the dark navy blue is giving way to a lighter blue, and sillouetting the alder trees. Soon the sky will be pink, and the alders will be fully visible, and then the sun will slowly start its 18 hour journey across the sky. It Peeks through the cracks in the branches, then ever so slowly comes up over the top of the alders, and into my bedroom window. At that point the Hummingbirds and woodpeckers are awake and feeding, and the doves will be whistling their way from the forest to the feeders also. Mr Robin is singing his little heart out, SO cheerily! I should go make a pot a coffee, and take it out on the deck and listen to the world come alive again, with one more fresh new day full of hope and song...Can it get much better than this?
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Go figure!
You Are A Fir Tree |
 You love anything beautiful, and you have extraordinary taste. And while it's hard for you to trust, you care deeply for those close to you. You are a social butterfly, and you have many friends. You handle stress well - and you are a master at relaxing after a hard day. Overall, you are modest, talented, unselfish, and very reliable. |
First I am a cougar, and now I am a fir tree...maybe I should be planning a move to the Mountains?
You Are a Hunter Soul |
 You are driven and ambitious - totally self motiviated to succeed Actively working to acheive what you want, you are skillful in many areas. You are a natural predator with strong instincts ... and more than a little demanding. You are creative, energetic, and an extremely powerful force. An outdoors person, you like animals and relate to them better than people. You tend to have an explosive personality, but also a good sense of humor. People sometimes see you as arrogant or a know it all. You tend to be a bit of a loner, though you hate to be alone. Souls you are most compatible with: Seeker Soul and Peacemaker Soul |
Yep better start packing huh?
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
I just do not know how to put into words the totally awesome show that this was! The theater itself was a work of art. It was huge inside,but it sure did not look that way from the sidewalk!
theatre
The entrance was just under the marquee, and there were stores all along the block. When I walked in the lobby was straight ahead, but the theater itself was BEHIND all the stores along the sidewalk. It took up the whole block! Inside, the ceiling was about 50 feet high with intricate Chinese carvings and tapestries all over the walls. The stage was the whole front of the theater, with the tall curtain . I wanted to get pictures of it all , but of course no cameras were allowed inside, And I did not want my camera taken away, so I behaved. The was no light to sneak a picture either.
Walking up to the Restaurant, we looked right at this building. Now mind you, we live in Earthquake country, and my first thought was "Crikey!! I would not want to be in that building during one!!" I was told, that it could withstand a 9.0 earthquake. Well I wouldn't want to risk it!! It was a great use of air space though. Not much room on the street, but the air was empty!
We ate right across the street from the theater, at this Benihana restaurant. All of the tables were the tepanyaki tables, and the chef puts on this really cool show with his chatter, and tall red hat, and two implements. A spatula, and one really sharp knife. He cooked it all right there in front of us. At the end, he took a slice of onion, and separated the rings, stacked them from large to small on the grill, right on the hot spot, poured some magic water into the center of it and lit it off. Looked just like a mini-volcano right on our table!! COOL!! He then brought out a blue bottle of Bombay Gin and cleaned the grill, before he left us to eat our meal. That was a show in itself. And GOOD GRIEF the prices!!!! I had the chef's choice which was prawns and a sirloin steak, and it was 27.99 US DOLLARS!! The sushi menu was brought after we ordered, so we got an order to split between us, and 4 pieces of YUMMY Sushi was 4.75! Now that is what I was really looking for, SO next time I go, I hit the sushi bar and eat there, MUCH cheaper!! The food was great, and the atmosphere was worth it, but this is not something that one does every month!!
We walked across the street to the theater, and the most amazing experience of my life was about to begin! Miss Saigon is a musical, about the fall of Saigon, and the life that the Vietnamese were subjected to by our service men. It was a love story, Chris and Kim meet and fall in love, and are separated when Saigon Falls and he is evacuated and she misses the last helicopter out. Fast forward 5 years, Kim is now in Bangkok, Chris is in Atlanta, and married to Ellen, when he finds out that Kim has a Son. Chris and Ellen and John (the friend from the army) all go to meet the Boy, and Kim meets Ellen, gives the boy to Chris and kills herself.
A simple story, patterned after Madame Butterfly, but the music, and the set, and the story of the Vietnamese Army and the staging and especially the dancing and the special effects, made this one extraordinary! The helicopter actually comes down out of the ceiling, right on the stage, and takes Chris and John up and away from the American Embassy. The director has made this production so different from any other one. The Lady I went with, Karol, said this one was absolutely the best she had ever seen. It was an experience in sense overload. The lighting designer took this simple story, and together with the orchestra and the choreographer and turned it into the most unique experience. BRIGHT vivid reds and yellows and blues, all swirling around, creating the mood of the scene. I so wanted to go backstage and see how the sets were moved on and off, and how the helicopter worked, and to see their light board. However, I am sure they did not want me back there.
I have talked about the staging of the story and have not mentioned the best part of the whole play, and that was the very talented actors that told the story. Miss Saigon, is really an opera. It is all sung, no speaking, and the play went on in two acts for 2 1/2 hours! Emy Baysic played the part of Kim. She also was in the Broadway production. Louis Hobson was a Seattle actor, and their voices blended together beautifully! The other two main characters were the Engineer and John, who were also from Seattle. This production is going to be touring, and if it comes your way, DO NOT MISS IT!! It cost me 50.00 for the ticket, but we had excellent seats, cheaper ones can be purchased. I am Hoping they go to Vancouver, and you can bet your bippy that if it does, I will be there.
theatre
The entrance was just under the marquee, and there were stores all along the block. When I walked in the lobby was straight ahead, but the theater itself was BEHIND all the stores along the sidewalk. It took up the whole block! Inside, the ceiling was about 50 feet high with intricate Chinese carvings and tapestries all over the walls. The stage was the whole front of the theater, with the tall curtain . I wanted to get pictures of it all , but of course no cameras were allowed inside, And I did not want my camera taken away, so I behaved. The was no light to sneak a picture either.
Walking up to the Restaurant, we looked right at this building. Now mind you, we live in Earthquake country, and my first thought was "Crikey!! I would not want to be in that building during one!!" I was told, that it could withstand a 9.0 earthquake. Well I wouldn't want to risk it!! It was a great use of air space though. Not much room on the street, but the air was empty!
We ate right across the street from the theater, at this Benihana restaurant. All of the tables were the tepanyaki tables, and the chef puts on this really cool show with his chatter, and tall red hat, and two implements. A spatula, and one really sharp knife. He cooked it all right there in front of us. At the end, he took a slice of onion, and separated the rings, stacked them from large to small on the grill, right on the hot spot, poured some magic water into the center of it and lit it off. Looked just like a mini-volcano right on our table!! COOL!! He then brought out a blue bottle of Bombay Gin and cleaned the grill, before he left us to eat our meal. That was a show in itself. And GOOD GRIEF the prices!!!! I had the chef's choice which was prawns and a sirloin steak, and it was 27.99 US DOLLARS!! The sushi menu was brought after we ordered, so we got an order to split between us, and 4 pieces of YUMMY Sushi was 4.75! Now that is what I was really looking for, SO next time I go, I hit the sushi bar and eat there, MUCH cheaper!! The food was great, and the atmosphere was worth it, but this is not something that one does every month!!
We walked across the street to the theater, and the most amazing experience of my life was about to begin! Miss Saigon is a musical, about the fall of Saigon, and the life that the Vietnamese were subjected to by our service men. It was a love story, Chris and Kim meet and fall in love, and are separated when Saigon Falls and he is evacuated and she misses the last helicopter out. Fast forward 5 years, Kim is now in Bangkok, Chris is in Atlanta, and married to Ellen, when he finds out that Kim has a Son. Chris and Ellen and John (the friend from the army) all go to meet the Boy, and Kim meets Ellen, gives the boy to Chris and kills herself.
A simple story, patterned after Madame Butterfly, but the music, and the set, and the story of the Vietnamese Army and the staging and especially the dancing and the special effects, made this one extraordinary! The helicopter actually comes down out of the ceiling, right on the stage, and takes Chris and John up and away from the American Embassy. The director has made this production so different from any other one. The Lady I went with, Karol, said this one was absolutely the best she had ever seen. It was an experience in sense overload. The lighting designer took this simple story, and together with the orchestra and the choreographer and turned it into the most unique experience. BRIGHT vivid reds and yellows and blues, all swirling around, creating the mood of the scene. I so wanted to go backstage and see how the sets were moved on and off, and how the helicopter worked, and to see their light board. However, I am sure they did not want me back there.
I have talked about the staging of the story and have not mentioned the best part of the whole play, and that was the very talented actors that told the story. Miss Saigon, is really an opera. It is all sung, no speaking, and the play went on in two acts for 2 1/2 hours! Emy Baysic played the part of Kim. She also was in the Broadway production. Louis Hobson was a Seattle actor, and their voices blended together beautifully! The other two main characters were the Engineer and John, who were also from Seattle. This production is going to be touring, and if it comes your way, DO NOT MISS IT!! It cost me 50.00 for the ticket, but we had excellent seats, cheaper ones can be purchased. I am Hoping they go to Vancouver, and you can bet your bippy that if it does, I will be there.
Monday, April 18, 2005
One more day!
I am getting so excited! I Love the Musical Miss Saigon, and I leave tomorrow to go to Seattle to the 5th Ave Theater to see it. Karol and I are going, and we plan on eating at The Benihana a Japanese restaurant, and having SUSHAY!!!! Then into the theater to see the helicopter land on stage. It is a real old fashioned plush theater! Not like these lame multi complexes they have now.
When I was a young girl, and we lived in Hawaii, Every Saturday Phyllis and I would get 1.00 apiece. That was for bus fare and a transfer from Pearl Harbor to down town Waikiki to the several theaters that were there. This included the price of the DOUBLE FEATURE, and a candy bar for each of us. And of course the ride back. I was 12, Phyllis was 9, and Yes, we rode the bus alone, and got off the bus down town, and went into the theater by ourselves. I loved the feeling of the theaters back then. They were huge, and had real smoking loges, and the balcony was for your date and you, to smooch in. The bottom floor was where we would sit, and gawk up at the velvet curtains that were lining the theater, with the gold cords around them. And Real Gold tassels on them. The screen was behind a curtain also, and the seats were plush upholstery, and the floor had carpeting on it. You sure don't find theaters like that anymore, anywhere. At least not Movie theaters! I loved the stairs that would take you up to the restrooms, they were carpeted, curved and padded!! You could not hear your footfalls on the stairs! The restrooms were attended! Imagine that, A woman would sit there and hand you a paper towel to wash your hands with. I can imagine how much that would cost today!
I always felt so grown up going into theaters like that. I felt like I was somebody special. Now you go into the tiny multiplex theaters, and the floors are sticky with spilled soda, (I HOPE) and the chairs are plastic, or leathertype coverings. The curtains are usually stained and full of dust, and the screen is just there, small but there. No curtain. No fuss, no pride!
I am looking forward to walking back into that atmosphere tomorrow. The theater was all refurbished a few years ago, and now is all decorated like a real Chinese theater, Just like in the days of my youth. I am gonna feel like a kid again. I am gonna buy a program and just get lost in the story of Kim and how she will lose her love and her Son. It is gonna be soooooooooooooo great!!!
Wheeeeee!!!!!!
When I was a young girl, and we lived in Hawaii, Every Saturday Phyllis and I would get 1.00 apiece. That was for bus fare and a transfer from Pearl Harbor to down town Waikiki to the several theaters that were there. This included the price of the DOUBLE FEATURE, and a candy bar for each of us. And of course the ride back. I was 12, Phyllis was 9, and Yes, we rode the bus alone, and got off the bus down town, and went into the theater by ourselves. I loved the feeling of the theaters back then. They were huge, and had real smoking loges, and the balcony was for your date and you, to smooch in. The bottom floor was where we would sit, and gawk up at the velvet curtains that were lining the theater, with the gold cords around them. And Real Gold tassels on them. The screen was behind a curtain also, and the seats were plush upholstery, and the floor had carpeting on it. You sure don't find theaters like that anymore, anywhere. At least not Movie theaters! I loved the stairs that would take you up to the restrooms, they were carpeted, curved and padded!! You could not hear your footfalls on the stairs! The restrooms were attended! Imagine that, A woman would sit there and hand you a paper towel to wash your hands with. I can imagine how much that would cost today!
I always felt so grown up going into theaters like that. I felt like I was somebody special. Now you go into the tiny multiplex theaters, and the floors are sticky with spilled soda, (I HOPE) and the chairs are plastic, or leathertype coverings. The curtains are usually stained and full of dust, and the screen is just there, small but there. No curtain. No fuss, no pride!
I am looking forward to walking back into that atmosphere tomorrow. The theater was all refurbished a few years ago, and now is all decorated like a real Chinese theater, Just like in the days of my youth. I am gonna feel like a kid again. I am gonna buy a program and just get lost in the story of Kim and how she will lose her love and her Son. It is gonna be soooooooooooooo great!!!
Wheeeeee!!!!!!
What kind of animal are you?
This one was a no-brainer.
What Is Your Animal Personality?
brought to you by Quizilla
Nailed me right on the head!
What Is Your Animal Personality?
brought to you by Quizilla
Nailed me right on the head!
Sunday, April 17, 2005
ONWARD!!!!
TEN LITTLE INDIANS was put to bed last night. AMEN! There was so much infighting in this show, with the other departments of the playhouse. It was so SAD!! There are people who are not coming back at all. There are people still placing blame, and I was stuck smack dab in the middle. Even our Board Liaison was to blame. ARRGGHHH it got better finally, but then the egos on stage started. GOD GRIEF guys! We are all volunteers, get over yourselves! Sheesh!!!
We had a sell out the final week, and that helped heal some of the split, And Last night's strike of the set went smoothly, I left before it was finished, But there were a lot of people working so me and my bad back, and axe in my head went home early. Only have the final bills to come in and then I can wrap this one, and concentrate on the FUN one.
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way TO The Forum. It is gonna be a hoot!! It will open June 3rd, and it is gonna be a sell out right off the bat. Good cast, good Director, Great Producer. (Rusty Shush!)
I should be getting my ass out there and mowing my grass, It is about 12-15" tall. REALLY!! Been too wet to mow for about three weeks, but it is clearing up and sposed to stay this way for a few days, so If nothing else, I need to find someone to cut it and get it ready for the season.
I had my taxes done last week in between headaches, And will be getting enough back this year, to pay off what I still owe from last year. I have NEVER had to pay until last year, and I still think that NEXCOM screwed up my vacation paystub. I think they inflated it by 10,000 which threw me into a new bracket. I did not GET the amount they said I did, unless it is hiding somewhere. Hell I sure could use it now!! If it isn't too late, I think I will yell loudly, get it corrected and file an amended return. Be nice to get something BACK again. I need a new lawnmower!
The house needs a thorough cleaning, and I might get into that next week, AFTER my trip to Seattle. I am going to go see MISS SAIGON at the 5th Ave Theater, and I am soooo excited! I love that musical, and the opportunity to go is one I could not pass up...It will break me, financially, but I just wont eat for the rest of the month! GOtta go see that!
Enough rambling, I just needed to post, before I got busy blogwalking and forgot again. OH EGADS! I also have to go fill the hummingbird feeders too, I just did that yesterday, but the greedy little buggers have them all drained again!! They are so much fun to watch, there must be at least 50 of them right here in the yard!! Makes you wonder just how many there really are in the world, if there are that many in MY yard!! As Carl Sagan said BILLIONS AND BILLIONS...
We had a sell out the final week, and that helped heal some of the split, And Last night's strike of the set went smoothly, I left before it was finished, But there were a lot of people working so me and my bad back, and axe in my head went home early. Only have the final bills to come in and then I can wrap this one, and concentrate on the FUN one.
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way TO The Forum. It is gonna be a hoot!! It will open June 3rd, and it is gonna be a sell out right off the bat. Good cast, good Director, Great Producer. (Rusty Shush!)
I should be getting my ass out there and mowing my grass, It is about 12-15" tall. REALLY!! Been too wet to mow for about three weeks, but it is clearing up and sposed to stay this way for a few days, so If nothing else, I need to find someone to cut it and get it ready for the season.
I had my taxes done last week in between headaches, And will be getting enough back this year, to pay off what I still owe from last year. I have NEVER had to pay until last year, and I still think that NEXCOM screwed up my vacation paystub. I think they inflated it by 10,000 which threw me into a new bracket. I did not GET the amount they said I did, unless it is hiding somewhere. Hell I sure could use it now!! If it isn't too late, I think I will yell loudly, get it corrected and file an amended return. Be nice to get something BACK again. I need a new lawnmower!
The house needs a thorough cleaning, and I might get into that next week, AFTER my trip to Seattle. I am going to go see MISS SAIGON at the 5th Ave Theater, and I am soooo excited! I love that musical, and the opportunity to go is one I could not pass up...It will break me, financially, but I just wont eat for the rest of the month! GOtta go see that!
Enough rambling, I just needed to post, before I got busy blogwalking and forgot again. OH EGADS! I also have to go fill the hummingbird feeders too, I just did that yesterday, but the greedy little buggers have them all drained again!! They are so much fun to watch, there must be at least 50 of them right here in the yard!! Makes you wonder just how many there really are in the world, if there are that many in MY yard!! As Carl Sagan said BILLIONS AND BILLIONS...
Friday, April 15, 2005
April on Whidbey...
Anybody wanna trade heads with me? I am over my cold, but now I have the worst headache ever. Got it yesterday, it hurts so badly that my eyes wont even focus correctly. Feels like I have a hatchet right in the middle of the top of my head, heading down my neck, and banding my forehead. ARRGGHH!!! My eyes are leaking, and Wont stop. I think it is the tree pollen, could not be the lilacs that I stole from the cemetery yesterday. J.
This is April, and in the Pacific Northwest, It is absolutely the prettiest month of all. The deciduous trees are all bursting out their leaves with bright spring green. And golden catkins are hanging from the oaks, and alders. The Lilacs are blooming in force, along with the tulips, daffodils and the rhododendrons. The Cheery Cherry trees, Plums, apples, pears and Peach trees are all in bloom, along with the forsythia, and weigelia .
The roses are just starting to bud, but won’t bloom until late May, and the Wisteria is just about ready to pop open. The late bloomers are the Iris, and the day lilies, but even those are starting to bud up.
April is usually wet and grey, but the past few years have spoiled us, as April has been dry and sunny and spring warm. Alas, it appears we are back to our normal weather patterns. We so need the rain. The snow pack in the mountains is about 40% of normal. All from this month and the end of March. Going into the end of March there was NO snow on the mountains. Now there is, and the ski resorts are opening back up. We have officially been declared a drought area, (who’d a thunk that) and that means that come the dry months of July-September, we may be on water rationing.
It got so cold here this week that it has frozen at night, warmed up to the low 50’s, and chilled us all to the bone. I am sitting here in my office, with the heater on, (a no-no in Mary Lou’s house) my fuzzy slippers and a heavy sweater on, and the cats are all huddled together on the sofa. Sadie is asleep right down there under the computer desk, and if I kick my slippers off she would make a great foot warmer.
We are expecting more storms to parade on in from the Pacific all this week, and into the beginning of next week. Then It should clear out and be warmer, and sunnier. Michelle has mentioned that she cant wait for the fall weather to hit her part of the world, And we are sitting here waiting for the warmer weather. Hmmm that must mean that we have hit the time of the year when both ends of the earth are experiencing the same type of weather. Must be really hot at the equator right now.
One thing about this unstable air that I really like is the gorgeous cloud formations that appear. You have to realize that up here, the clouds are usually so thick that you cant see anything but grey, and wet. But with this, we get what we call sun breaks, and blue skies peek out, and then we can see the tops of the Cumulus clouds, and the dark thundery storms that are full of rain. I Love it!!
I started this post to be a well thought out post about spring, and just wandered away from it. When I start writing, I never know what direction my fingers are gonna take. But I do know that this has just gone into page 2 in word, so I have rambled on long enough. I shall quit for today and get this on the blog, so ya’ll won’t think I have skipped town. See ya tomorrow…
This is April, and in the Pacific Northwest, It is absolutely the prettiest month of all. The deciduous trees are all bursting out their leaves with bright spring green. And golden catkins are hanging from the oaks, and alders. The Lilacs are blooming in force, along with the tulips, daffodils and the rhododendrons. The Cheery Cherry trees, Plums, apples, pears and Peach trees are all in bloom, along with the forsythia, and weigelia .
The roses are just starting to bud, but won’t bloom until late May, and the Wisteria is just about ready to pop open. The late bloomers are the Iris, and the day lilies, but even those are starting to bud up.
April is usually wet and grey, but the past few years have spoiled us, as April has been dry and sunny and spring warm. Alas, it appears we are back to our normal weather patterns. We so need the rain. The snow pack in the mountains is about 40% of normal. All from this month and the end of March. Going into the end of March there was NO snow on the mountains. Now there is, and the ski resorts are opening back up. We have officially been declared a drought area, (who’d a thunk that) and that means that come the dry months of July-September, we may be on water rationing.
It got so cold here this week that it has frozen at night, warmed up to the low 50’s, and chilled us all to the bone. I am sitting here in my office, with the heater on, (a no-no in Mary Lou’s house) my fuzzy slippers and a heavy sweater on, and the cats are all huddled together on the sofa. Sadie is asleep right down there under the computer desk, and if I kick my slippers off she would make a great foot warmer.
We are expecting more storms to parade on in from the Pacific all this week, and into the beginning of next week. Then It should clear out and be warmer, and sunnier. Michelle has mentioned that she cant wait for the fall weather to hit her part of the world, And we are sitting here waiting for the warmer weather. Hmmm that must mean that we have hit the time of the year when both ends of the earth are experiencing the same type of weather. Must be really hot at the equator right now.
One thing about this unstable air that I really like is the gorgeous cloud formations that appear. You have to realize that up here, the clouds are usually so thick that you cant see anything but grey, and wet. But with this, we get what we call sun breaks, and blue skies peek out, and then we can see the tops of the Cumulus clouds, and the dark thundery storms that are full of rain. I Love it!!
I started this post to be a well thought out post about spring, and just wandered away from it. When I start writing, I never know what direction my fingers are gonna take. But I do know that this has just gone into page 2 in word, so I have rambled on long enough. I shall quit for today and get this on the blog, so ya’ll won’t think I have skipped town. See ya tomorrow…
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
From Wanda....
1.You are stuck inside Fahrenheit 451. Which book would you be?
[Note: In the novel - because books were burned. To save the content of books, people memorized one in order to pass the content on to others.]
Oh Man, Only one? Probably WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS by Shel Silverstein. Only because you need some frivolity in life too, and just about everybody else would memorize something serious!
2. Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?
Rhett Butler!!!!
3.What is the last book you bought?
Front page for Dummies!
4.What are you currently reading?
Just finished Catherine Coulter’s BLOW OUT I highly recommend it.
5.Five books for your desert island cruise package
a. Janet Evanovich’s 4-10.
b. Nora Roberts Latest
c. Sandra Browns Latest
d. Da Vinci Code
e. Sensational Scrapbooks
6.Who are you going to pass this book meme baton to and why? (only three people)
Geez! I don’t know. Ummmmm Joan, Rusty, (you can post it here) and Donna!
[Note: In the novel - because books were burned. To save the content of books, people memorized one in order to pass the content on to others.]
Oh Man, Only one? Probably WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS by Shel Silverstein. Only because you need some frivolity in life too, and just about everybody else would memorize something serious!
2. Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?
Rhett Butler!!!!
3.What is the last book you bought?
Front page for Dummies!
4.What are you currently reading?
Just finished Catherine Coulter’s BLOW OUT I highly recommend it.
5.Five books for your desert island cruise package
a. Janet Evanovich’s 4-10.
b. Nora Roberts Latest
c. Sandra Browns Latest
d. Da Vinci Code
e. Sensational Scrapbooks
6.Who are you going to pass this book meme baton to and why? (only three people)
Geez! I don’t know. Ummmmm Joan, Rusty, (you can post it here) and Donna!
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
ARRRRGHHHH!!!!
My server, Isomedia is being a BASTARD!!! It keeps kicking me off line. I as you well know am on SHIT DIAL-UP and there is a bad modem at their end, but I can not convince them of that. It is not me. I have a new phone line installed, even though the Verizon man said it was not the line, I made him use new wires and re install the line. He did. Cost me over 100.00. Still kicked me off, Ok check the modem, not the modem, still kicked me off. THey sent out a memo about a month ago that they were upgrading something or other and lo and behold, everything worked FINE for about three weeks. It is doing it again. I have been trying to send a file to Rusty for 2 hours, it gets sent about 1/2 way then kicks me off and redials. Talk about frustrating. I want to scream and yell and stomp and yank my hair out at this ridiculous piece of SHIT!!!!! I wish I could convince isomedia that they have a huge problem with their dial up service and I HATE THEM!!!!!!!
If I can get this to post without kicking me off, Im gonna turn it off and go to bed, to hell with it. (stupid pieces of crap!)
If I can get this to post without kicking me off, Im gonna turn it off and go to bed, to hell with it. (stupid pieces of crap!)
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Be Prepared.
All the years growing up I was taught that you need to be prepared for any emergency that might befall you. To always have an emergency kit handy, with water, and 1st aid supplies, a change of clothes, a shovel some rope, matches and some food. A flashlight, a pocket knife, and if you did not know where you were going, to always have a map and or compass ready. Oh and a blanket or two.
Dad always had either a stationwagon, or a pickup truck, and we kids, used to cringe when he would come pick us up from school or a ball game because that vehicle was full to the brim of STUFF! Now if you wanted or needed something, Dad had it in his car.
I to a certain degree am that way, and my Sister is definitely that way. We both drive Suv's/Vans from Mazda, and have enough room to carry all that we may need at any time. I have a rubbermaid tote in the back full of stuff.
I also believe in being prepared for emergencies around the house, and have candles and lanterns, and flashlights every where. I have a cell phone for emergencies that I always keep in my car. And at home, I have two phones. One runs off the phone line, the other is cordless. That way when the lights go out as they often do around here, I still have a way of communicating with someone. My blue princess phone even has a light on it that works off the phone line.
Tonight I had to run the light booth at the Playhouse, as Tyler had a death in the family and would not be able to run them this weekend. SO off I trundle, to the playhouse, ran the light booth, with only a minor booboo, and started on my way home.
Just as I was going along the water in San de Fuca, I noticed that the clouds were white and billowy and low, and the stars were peeking around the tall clouds. The lights from Seattle, and Pt. Townsend and Anacortes were lighting the bottom of the clouds, and it was really pretty. A nice contrast. I saw a light in an odd spot, and thought it was the moon shining through. But it was not. It almost looked like a beacon or something. I drove on up the highway, and when I broke out of the trees and was heading down the hill to cross the prairie, I looked across the water at PT Townsend and saw nothing. I turned at the light in Coupeville and headed down towards the Ferry landing to see if I could find the light. Just as I broke out of the trees again at the ferry landing, I saw that it was a search light from PT Townsend. Must be having a celebration over there or something. Ok inquisitiveness was satisfied, so I continued home along the beach and drank in the lights on the water.
when I got to the point where I could go right, along the water, and then up the hill around the lake, or left along the highway and then into the development that way, I chose the beach. It was a tad bit shorter. I passed all the houses along the shore and turned past the club house and swimming pool, and was on the one lane road up the hill, when I went over a speed bump. Must have been too fast, because right about then a loud clank, rattle rattle rattle rattle came from the rear end of the car. I stopped and it stopped, I started and it started again. It is only 20 MPH there so I was not going real fast. I tried to drive it on home, which was about another 1/2 mile Up the hill, but it was making a hell of a racket...I dropped my transmission right in the middle of the road.
It is midnight, and dark as holy hell, and I am alone. All the houses around the lake were dark. SO I left my lights on, turned of the car, turned on the flashers, and looked for my cell phone to call Donna. The Cell phone that is usually ALWAYS in the car for just such emergency is sitting on the top of my computer at home because I only have one freaking phone line, and I was waiting for a call, while I was on the computer this afternoon. SHIT!!!!
SO I looked for the 5 flashlights that I always have in the car for just such emergency. They are all in the house. SHIT!!!!!!
So I lock up the car, leave it smack in the middle of the road and start walking. Now those of you that know me, know I have very bad knees and back, made even worse by having to sit for 3 hours on a crooked stool in a cramped dark, hot light booth.
I Walked up the hill which is about 10 miles straight up huffing and puffing and wheezing because of my bronchitis, and make it to the house at the corner. No lights on, so I sat on their garden wall and wheezed and caught my breath and started again. I made it another 1/2 block and sat on another wall, no lights there either. I don't know HOW these people kept from hearing me breathe, but either they didn't hear or didn't care that there was a 59 year old fat woman, dying on their wall.
I caught my breath again and headed towards the next corner. All of this is up hill mind you. Really great for the knees. I finally found a house lit up like Christmas, so I crawled up their steps and rang the door bell. Nothing. I could hear them talking so I rang it again, nothing, then I rang it again, and the dog barked, and that brought them to the door.
SO here I am all dressed in black, sweating like a pig, my face beet red going into purple, wheezing and coughing and doubled over out of breathe and trying to explain that I was fine but would they please call my daughter?
I got the phone, and called my house. Donna was on the computer, so of course I got my voice mail. I called her cell phone, but it was in her bedroom where she couldn't hear it, so I called MY CELL phone which I knew was sitting on the computer. JOY!!!!
She came and picked me up, and we went the 100 yards or so that I crawled, and found the car. She shone her headlights under the rear end, and there was my spare tire rack dragging the ground and empty. WHEW!!!!! Not the transmission after all. But where is the tire? Oh back down the road where the speed bump was. She ran down, and rolled it back, we put it in my car and hooked the rack back up until I can see what I am doing tomorrow in the daylight, and drove back home.
I have finally caught my breath, my face is now back to normal color, I took a shower and cooled off, and now I am ready for bed, because lucky me, I get to do this all over again tomorrow!! ARRGGHHHHH!!!
Good night folks. Been a rough one ....But Thank You LORD it was nothing expensive.
Oh and tomorrow, the cell phone goes back into the car, the flashlights get new batteries, and I'm buying a 4 cell maglite to keep in the car. That way I can light my way with a lethal weapon!!
Dad always had either a stationwagon, or a pickup truck, and we kids, used to cringe when he would come pick us up from school or a ball game because that vehicle was full to the brim of STUFF! Now if you wanted or needed something, Dad had it in his car.
I to a certain degree am that way, and my Sister is definitely that way. We both drive Suv's/Vans from Mazda, and have enough room to carry all that we may need at any time. I have a rubbermaid tote in the back full of stuff.
I also believe in being prepared for emergencies around the house, and have candles and lanterns, and flashlights every where. I have a cell phone for emergencies that I always keep in my car. And at home, I have two phones. One runs off the phone line, the other is cordless. That way when the lights go out as they often do around here, I still have a way of communicating with someone. My blue princess phone even has a light on it that works off the phone line.
Tonight I had to run the light booth at the Playhouse, as Tyler had a death in the family and would not be able to run them this weekend. SO off I trundle, to the playhouse, ran the light booth, with only a minor booboo, and started on my way home.
Just as I was going along the water in San de Fuca, I noticed that the clouds were white and billowy and low, and the stars were peeking around the tall clouds. The lights from Seattle, and Pt. Townsend and Anacortes were lighting the bottom of the clouds, and it was really pretty. A nice contrast. I saw a light in an odd spot, and thought it was the moon shining through. But it was not. It almost looked like a beacon or something. I drove on up the highway, and when I broke out of the trees and was heading down the hill to cross the prairie, I looked across the water at PT Townsend and saw nothing. I turned at the light in Coupeville and headed down towards the Ferry landing to see if I could find the light. Just as I broke out of the trees again at the ferry landing, I saw that it was a search light from PT Townsend. Must be having a celebration over there or something. Ok inquisitiveness was satisfied, so I continued home along the beach and drank in the lights on the water.
when I got to the point where I could go right, along the water, and then up the hill around the lake, or left along the highway and then into the development that way, I chose the beach. It was a tad bit shorter. I passed all the houses along the shore and turned past the club house and swimming pool, and was on the one lane road up the hill, when I went over a speed bump. Must have been too fast, because right about then a loud clank, rattle rattle rattle rattle came from the rear end of the car. I stopped and it stopped, I started and it started again. It is only 20 MPH there so I was not going real fast. I tried to drive it on home, which was about another 1/2 mile Up the hill, but it was making a hell of a racket...I dropped my transmission right in the middle of the road.
It is midnight, and dark as holy hell, and I am alone. All the houses around the lake were dark. SO I left my lights on, turned of the car, turned on the flashers, and looked for my cell phone to call Donna. The Cell phone that is usually ALWAYS in the car for just such emergency is sitting on the top of my computer at home because I only have one freaking phone line, and I was waiting for a call, while I was on the computer this afternoon. SHIT!!!!
SO I looked for the 5 flashlights that I always have in the car for just such emergency. They are all in the house. SHIT!!!!!!
So I lock up the car, leave it smack in the middle of the road and start walking. Now those of you that know me, know I have very bad knees and back, made even worse by having to sit for 3 hours on a crooked stool in a cramped dark, hot light booth.
I Walked up the hill which is about 10 miles straight up huffing and puffing and wheezing because of my bronchitis, and make it to the house at the corner. No lights on, so I sat on their garden wall and wheezed and caught my breath and started again. I made it another 1/2 block and sat on another wall, no lights there either. I don't know HOW these people kept from hearing me breathe, but either they didn't hear or didn't care that there was a 59 year old fat woman, dying on their wall.
I caught my breath again and headed towards the next corner. All of this is up hill mind you. Really great for the knees. I finally found a house lit up like Christmas, so I crawled up their steps and rang the door bell. Nothing. I could hear them talking so I rang it again, nothing, then I rang it again, and the dog barked, and that brought them to the door.
SO here I am all dressed in black, sweating like a pig, my face beet red going into purple, wheezing and coughing and doubled over out of breathe and trying to explain that I was fine but would they please call my daughter?
I got the phone, and called my house. Donna was on the computer, so of course I got my voice mail. I called her cell phone, but it was in her bedroom where she couldn't hear it, so I called MY CELL phone which I knew was sitting on the computer. JOY!!!!
She came and picked me up, and we went the 100 yards or so that I crawled, and found the car. She shone her headlights under the rear end, and there was my spare tire rack dragging the ground and empty. WHEW!!!!! Not the transmission after all. But where is the tire? Oh back down the road where the speed bump was. She ran down, and rolled it back, we put it in my car and hooked the rack back up until I can see what I am doing tomorrow in the daylight, and drove back home.
I have finally caught my breath, my face is now back to normal color, I took a shower and cooled off, and now I am ready for bed, because lucky me, I get to do this all over again tomorrow!! ARRGGHHHHH!!!
Good night folks. Been a rough one ....But Thank You LORD it was nothing expensive.
Oh and tomorrow, the cell phone goes back into the car, the flashlights get new batteries, and I'm buying a 4 cell maglite to keep in the car. That way I can light my way with a lethal weapon!!
Friday, April 08, 2005
RIP John-Paul II
When I was a child I lived on Guam. My very Early years in Church were spent in the Catholic Church with our housekeeper Carmen. She was Guamanian, and had Mom and Dad's permission to take me with her to her Daily Mass. I also went with her to Easter Sunrise Services, and To Christmas Midnight Mass. I was enthralled with the pomp and circumstance that went along with a very religious community. I remember the steep walk up a mountain, in the very early morning to a big cross on the top of a hill. Easter Procession? I wanted to be a catholic. Mom was raised as a very devote Methodist, and Dad was Born to a Catholic Father and a Fanatic Mother, so he did not go to church.
As We moved back to the States, I was enrolled with Phyllis in the First Methodist Church Sunday School in National City California. From that time on, I was a Methodist. I went to church every Sunday, and was confirmed in the Methodist Church when I was 16. I stayed with the Church in Oak Harbor until Reverend Scott left. When that happened, I was out of school, and working on Base, so I switched to the Base Chapel.
My best friend was Catholic, and I went to mass with her, then to Church to sing in the choir for the protestant service. I met and married a Southern Baptist. And then he promptly got me pregnant and then the Navy took him away and he met and married another woman. (yep while still married to me!) I Divorced him and went back to the Methodist Church.
I then met my 2nd Husband. A devout Roman Catholic. We married out of the church, because I was divorced, and could not become a catholic. We raised both of our Children in the Catholic Church, and they went all the way through Catechism, and up to confirmation when I left their father.
I got very busy trying to raise two teenagers, and support them on what I was making, while going back to college full time. After I got back from Nevada, in 2000, and found out my son was in jail, I thought about going back to church again, and was just about there when 9-11 hit. I was so affected by that and the fact that The Lord allowed men to destroy 3000 souls in his name!!! I can not come to grips with that. I have heard all the explanations, I just CAN NOT deal with it.
Last Week when the Pope was in the hospital, I watched CNN constantly to see when they announced his death. It did not happen the first day, and he was still alive when I had to turn off the TV Saturday and go to work. He died right after I got to work. I have watched all of the news casts, and I stayed up last night to watch the Funeral.
All of my roots came flooding back. The Pomp and the Music, and the Chants and the Ceremony and the humanity all were there. I sat there transfixed. I watched every single minute of the funeral, and I actually understood it. I took 2 years of Latin, in School, and it remained with me hidden under all of the slang and cuss words I use now. I remember the rosary, the Apostles Creed, the Lord's Prayer, both versions. I Loved the Music. I was fascinated with the faces of the young and the old mourners in Krakow , Poland. I empathized with the young woman holding her rosary clenched in her fist and holding it to her face with a tear running down her cheek.
All of the Glory of the Catholic Church is still there, Tarnished in some places by the scandals that have surfaced, and probably will surface again.
Pope John-Paul II did a remarkable life time of work bringing the eastern and the western (Orthodox and Roman) Catholics back together again, and has been very instrumental in the downfall of communism in major parts of the world. His body gave up but his mind remained sharp until the very end.
Now the Catholic Church has to choose a new Pope, and the task is not going to be an easy one. Do you choose one that will continue the work of John-Paul, or do you choose one that will take the church in a new direction. One that will bridge the gap between the old and the much needed new? Only time will tell.
there needs to be some changes. I have seen it go from a totally Latin Mass to a Folk Mass, Strangers shaking hands with strangers. I have seen Priests go from the long Cossack to jeans, and a collar. I have seen Sisters go from long Habits, to short skirts.
Now I think the time is coming that the Vatican will need to decide if the Priests can or should Marry. I think they should be given a choice...Celibacy or not. The Catholic Church is losing men into the priesthood, so either they need to allow them to choose or Allow Women as Priests. The Convents have lost novices. Last year there were NONE. This year there is ONE! Soon they will be all gone. Allowing women into the priesthood and allowing both sexes to Marry would or should bring more into the priesthood.
I do not know what the answer is. I do not know what my Future will be. I know that I believe in a Higher Power, I just am not sure what form that takes. It might be Christ, it might not be. I am still looking, and looking hard. I think though that I lean a Lot towards Catholicism, I wonder how far I will lean before I too fall?
Whatever your leanings, you have to admit that John Paul II was an incredible man. A Man who knew to the minute when He was going to see his Father. A man who looked around, closed his eyes said "Amen" and died.
the world gave him a fantastic send-off.
As We moved back to the States, I was enrolled with Phyllis in the First Methodist Church Sunday School in National City California. From that time on, I was a Methodist. I went to church every Sunday, and was confirmed in the Methodist Church when I was 16. I stayed with the Church in Oak Harbor until Reverend Scott left. When that happened, I was out of school, and working on Base, so I switched to the Base Chapel.
My best friend was Catholic, and I went to mass with her, then to Church to sing in the choir for the protestant service. I met and married a Southern Baptist. And then he promptly got me pregnant and then the Navy took him away and he met and married another woman. (yep while still married to me!) I Divorced him and went back to the Methodist Church.
I then met my 2nd Husband. A devout Roman Catholic. We married out of the church, because I was divorced, and could not become a catholic. We raised both of our Children in the Catholic Church, and they went all the way through Catechism, and up to confirmation when I left their father.
I got very busy trying to raise two teenagers, and support them on what I was making, while going back to college full time. After I got back from Nevada, in 2000, and found out my son was in jail, I thought about going back to church again, and was just about there when 9-11 hit. I was so affected by that and the fact that The Lord allowed men to destroy 3000 souls in his name!!! I can not come to grips with that. I have heard all the explanations, I just CAN NOT deal with it.
Last Week when the Pope was in the hospital, I watched CNN constantly to see when they announced his death. It did not happen the first day, and he was still alive when I had to turn off the TV Saturday and go to work. He died right after I got to work. I have watched all of the news casts, and I stayed up last night to watch the Funeral.
All of my roots came flooding back. The Pomp and the Music, and the Chants and the Ceremony and the humanity all were there. I sat there transfixed. I watched every single minute of the funeral, and I actually understood it. I took 2 years of Latin, in School, and it remained with me hidden under all of the slang and cuss words I use now. I remember the rosary, the Apostles Creed, the Lord's Prayer, both versions. I Loved the Music. I was fascinated with the faces of the young and the old mourners in Krakow , Poland. I empathized with the young woman holding her rosary clenched in her fist and holding it to her face with a tear running down her cheek.
All of the Glory of the Catholic Church is still there, Tarnished in some places by the scandals that have surfaced, and probably will surface again.
Pope John-Paul II did a remarkable life time of work bringing the eastern and the western (Orthodox and Roman) Catholics back together again, and has been very instrumental in the downfall of communism in major parts of the world. His body gave up but his mind remained sharp until the very end.
Now the Catholic Church has to choose a new Pope, and the task is not going to be an easy one. Do you choose one that will continue the work of John-Paul, or do you choose one that will take the church in a new direction. One that will bridge the gap between the old and the much needed new? Only time will tell.
there needs to be some changes. I have seen it go from a totally Latin Mass to a Folk Mass, Strangers shaking hands with strangers. I have seen Priests go from the long Cossack to jeans, and a collar. I have seen Sisters go from long Habits, to short skirts.
Now I think the time is coming that the Vatican will need to decide if the Priests can or should Marry. I think they should be given a choice...Celibacy or not. The Catholic Church is losing men into the priesthood, so either they need to allow them to choose or Allow Women as Priests. The Convents have lost novices. Last year there were NONE. This year there is ONE! Soon they will be all gone. Allowing women into the priesthood and allowing both sexes to Marry would or should bring more into the priesthood.
I do not know what the answer is. I do not know what my Future will be. I know that I believe in a Higher Power, I just am not sure what form that takes. It might be Christ, it might not be. I am still looking, and looking hard. I think though that I lean a Lot towards Catholicism, I wonder how far I will lean before I too fall?
Whatever your leanings, you have to admit that John Paul II was an incredible man. A Man who knew to the minute when He was going to see his Father. A man who looked around, closed his eyes said "Amen" and died.
the world gave him a fantastic send-off.
Re-runs!
I wrote this in 2003 but it just warrants a rerun...
Saturday, April 19, 2003
No one told me that when I retired, I would start looking really old. I dont have to do my hair everyday. I dont have to wear makeup every day. I dont have to wear panty hose every day, I can wear big baggy clothes and go bra-less. All of the above when added together spells OLD! Now I KNEW my hair was gray, I wanted it to go gray, It is a rite of passage to get gray, and mine is a pretty white gray. It is just in front, and lots of people spend lots of money to frost their hair the way mine looks. sort of. Old!
I KNEW I was Fat. But what I did NOT know was that when you go bra-less, it feels really good, you can breath better, your shoulders dont hurt as much, BUT your bust line is now at your waist line. OLD! I KNEW that wearing makeup covered a multitude of sins, but I did Not know that it also covered age spots, double chins, skin tags, sagging eyelids and gray eyebrows that thinned out so far, naturally, that it looks like you shaved 1/2 of them off. OLD! I KNEW that I should wax my upper lip every so often, but I did NOT know that it would become MORE often as you age. I now have more hair on my upper lip than I have on my legs. OLD! I did not know that my lips would get chapped. I wore lipstick every day, all day, which kept them moist. Now they are chapped. AHA wear lipstick again, I did NOT know that your lips thinned out. I put my lipstick on without a mirror, which is what I have been doing for 38 years, and when I went into the bathroom I noticed that I had lipstick WAAAY outside my lipline. It was there before, why isnt it now? OLD. I KNEW that my pantyhose were control top, but what I did NOT know was how MUCH they controlled!!! Gravity took over, and now my belly button says Howdy to my twat. OLD!
There are women out there that are in denial of getting OLD, wake up every morning and go through their usual ritual of putting all of the above on. Why? Is it vanity, Denial, or Just not wanting the rest of the world to see the real you? Should I get up and do all of that? Should I live with it and be comfortable? SHould I do SOME of it and skip the rest? What is the pay off? WIll it get me a husband that will take care of me the rest of my life? NO. Will it bring me tons of money to my door? NO! Will it set a great example for other people? NO! Hmmmm....makes ya wonder. I think that growing old gracefully is a blessing. There are real challenges, true, but why try to look 22 when you are pushing 60? Go with the flow, rejoice that you MADE it to 60. Just be really sure that you put all of this stuff on when you go out to meet the world. Scaring little kids is not nice!
Damned Blogger lost my post!! Why is it doing this to everyone right now? I am starting to HATE YOU!!!!!
____________________________________________________________________________________
I stayed awake last night to watch the Pope's Funeral, and I must say that he was done really good!! It was a long ceremony, But it was well done. The emotions on the masses faces was so touching. Especially the Polish crowds. It was like losing their very own father. He lived a long life, and he is now with his Lord. Amen.
Saturday, April 19, 2003
No one told me that when I retired, I would start looking really old. I dont have to do my hair everyday. I dont have to wear makeup every day. I dont have to wear panty hose every day, I can wear big baggy clothes and go bra-less. All of the above when added together spells OLD! Now I KNEW my hair was gray, I wanted it to go gray, It is a rite of passage to get gray, and mine is a pretty white gray. It is just in front, and lots of people spend lots of money to frost their hair the way mine looks. sort of. Old!
I KNEW I was Fat. But what I did NOT know was that when you go bra-less, it feels really good, you can breath better, your shoulders dont hurt as much, BUT your bust line is now at your waist line. OLD! I KNEW that wearing makeup covered a multitude of sins, but I did Not know that it also covered age spots, double chins, skin tags, sagging eyelids and gray eyebrows that thinned out so far, naturally, that it looks like you shaved 1/2 of them off. OLD! I KNEW that I should wax my upper lip every so often, but I did NOT know that it would become MORE often as you age. I now have more hair on my upper lip than I have on my legs. OLD! I did not know that my lips would get chapped. I wore lipstick every day, all day, which kept them moist. Now they are chapped. AHA wear lipstick again, I did NOT know that your lips thinned out. I put my lipstick on without a mirror, which is what I have been doing for 38 years, and when I went into the bathroom I noticed that I had lipstick WAAAY outside my lipline. It was there before, why isnt it now? OLD. I KNEW that my pantyhose were control top, but what I did NOT know was how MUCH they controlled!!! Gravity took over, and now my belly button says Howdy to my twat. OLD!
There are women out there that are in denial of getting OLD, wake up every morning and go through their usual ritual of putting all of the above on. Why? Is it vanity, Denial, or Just not wanting the rest of the world to see the real you? Should I get up and do all of that? Should I live with it and be comfortable? SHould I do SOME of it and skip the rest? What is the pay off? WIll it get me a husband that will take care of me the rest of my life? NO. Will it bring me tons of money to my door? NO! Will it set a great example for other people? NO! Hmmmm....makes ya wonder. I think that growing old gracefully is a blessing. There are real challenges, true, but why try to look 22 when you are pushing 60? Go with the flow, rejoice that you MADE it to 60. Just be really sure that you put all of this stuff on when you go out to meet the world. Scaring little kids is not nice!
Damned Blogger lost my post!! Why is it doing this to everyone right now? I am starting to HATE YOU!!!!!
____________________________________________________________________________________
I stayed awake last night to watch the Pope's Funeral, and I must say that he was done really good!! It was a long ceremony, But it was well done. The emotions on the masses faces was so touching. Especially the Polish crowds. It was like losing their very own father. He lived a long life, and he is now with his Lord. Amen.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Getting old
The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it and let her know.
Old age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body---the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie or for not making my bed or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need but that looks so avant garde on my patio. I am entitled to overeat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60's, and, if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But, there again, some of life is just as well forgotten---and I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one or when a child suffers or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say "no" and mean it. I can say "yes" and mean it. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but, while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day.
Author unknown
I loved that!!! It fits me so well. I have gotten so much character on my face and body now. I have skin tags on my face, and eye lids, I have age spots on my cheek, I have fat rolls where my stomach used to be, My thighs sag like elephant legs, my hair is gray and brown, I have bat wings for arms, vericose veins and spider veins on both legs, I have arthritis in both knees both hips and my spine. Oh and my wonky little finger that wont release the shift key so I type double caps.
I cant breathe very well, and I damn sure cant walk very far, but I am at this point in my life Happy and satisfied. I live alone (sorta) I own my own home, my car is paid for, I have a fairly good retirement, and if I wake up in the middle of the night and want to read a book until daybreak, I DO!! I used to feel guilty, but I don't any more. I earned it! I raised two kids, had a stressful career, and went through two husbands. I now am in charge of my own life. I intend to enjoy it while I can, because soon Donna will be in charge, and I wont be able to go out after dark, or eat ice cream, or have 4 cats, or even talk back. Pity!
We cast our show tonite, and I have a ton of work to do to get ready for tomorrows read-through. SO Off I go. I will be around...
Old age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body---the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie or for not making my bed or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need but that looks so avant garde on my patio. I am entitled to overeat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60's, and, if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But, there again, some of life is just as well forgotten---and I eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one or when a child suffers or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say "no" and mean it. I can say "yes" and mean it. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but, while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day.
Author unknown
I loved that!!! It fits me so well. I have gotten so much character on my face and body now. I have skin tags on my face, and eye lids, I have age spots on my cheek, I have fat rolls where my stomach used to be, My thighs sag like elephant legs, my hair is gray and brown, I have bat wings for arms, vericose veins and spider veins on both legs, I have arthritis in both knees both hips and my spine. Oh and my wonky little finger that wont release the shift key so I type double caps.
I cant breathe very well, and I damn sure cant walk very far, but I am at this point in my life Happy and satisfied. I live alone (sorta) I own my own home, my car is paid for, I have a fairly good retirement, and if I wake up in the middle of the night and want to read a book until daybreak, I DO!! I used to feel guilty, but I don't any more. I earned it! I raised two kids, had a stressful career, and went through two husbands. I now am in charge of my own life. I intend to enjoy it while I can, because soon Donna will be in charge, and I wont be able to go out after dark, or eat ice cream, or have 4 cats, or even talk back. Pity!
We cast our show tonite, and I have a ton of work to do to get ready for tomorrows read-through. SO Off I go. I will be around...
Monday, April 04, 2005
I'm WHUPPED!!!
I am so damn tired!! I slept most of the weekend, because this damn cold is rebounding on me and I am as weal as a kitten.
TOnight I had Auditions for A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and it was a hoot. We had them all take a sheet and make their own togas in 90 seconds!! SOme of them had no clue!!! One man said HA! I just looked this up on the internet, and he went whap, whap whap and had it on it nothing flat. I would say he is prepared for the role.
We need 18 people for the cast and we got 5! I just do not know what is wrong with this town. All of a sudden it is like there is no more people that want to commit to a 3 month long rehearsal schedule. Is little Theater going the way of Family Picnics at work I wonder? No one shows up except management, and only because they were told they HAD to go.
There are so many activities now for every one that there is no more time in the family schedule for the old stand bys. Even the kids that want to be actors, have schedules they have to work around...softball, soccer, baseball, basketball, graduation, concerts, etc. Whoa!!
I think that we need to start beating the bushes and putting out massive publicity articles, about the need for volunteers of all types. I sure would hate to see the Playhouse close, for lack of interest.
I am hitting the bed now folks, I am fried!!!!
G'nite/
TOnight I had Auditions for A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and it was a hoot. We had them all take a sheet and make their own togas in 90 seconds!! SOme of them had no clue!!! One man said HA! I just looked this up on the internet, and he went whap, whap whap and had it on it nothing flat. I would say he is prepared for the role.
We need 18 people for the cast and we got 5! I just do not know what is wrong with this town. All of a sudden it is like there is no more people that want to commit to a 3 month long rehearsal schedule. Is little Theater going the way of Family Picnics at work I wonder? No one shows up except management, and only because they were told they HAD to go.
There are so many activities now for every one that there is no more time in the family schedule for the old stand bys. Even the kids that want to be actors, have schedules they have to work around...softball, soccer, baseball, basketball, graduation, concerts, etc. Whoa!!
I think that we need to start beating the bushes and putting out massive publicity articles, about the need for volunteers of all types. I sure would hate to see the Playhouse close, for lack of interest.
I am hitting the bed now folks, I am fried!!!!
G'nite/
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Sunday Funnies...
A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor's office.
"Is it true," she wanted to know,
"that the medication you prescribed has
to be taken for the rest of my life?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so," the doctor told her.
There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied,
"I'm wondering, then, just how serious is my condition
because this prescription is marked 'NO REFILLS'."
-----------------------------------------
An older Jewish gentleman was on the operating table
awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son,
a renowned surgeon, perform the operation.
As he was about to get the anesthesia
he asked to speak to his son.
"Yes, Dad, what is it?" "Don't be nervous, son;
do your best and just remember, if it doesn't go well,
if something happens t o me ...
your mother is going to come
and live with you and your wife...."
-----------------------------------------
Aging: Eventually you will reach a point when you
stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.
------------------------------------------
The older we get, the fewer things seem
worth waiting in line for
------------------------------------------
Some people try to turn back their odometers.
Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way.
I've traveled a long way and some of the
roads weren't paved.
--------------------------------------------
How old would you be
if you didn't know how old you are?
----------------------------------------------
When you are dissatisfied and would
like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.
---------------------------------------------
You know you are getting old when everything
either dries up or leaks.
----------------------------------------------
I don't know how I got over the hill
without getting to the top.
----------------------------------------------
One of the many things no one tells you about aging
is that it is such a nice change from being young.
----------------------------------------------
Ah, being young is beautiful,
but being old is comfortable.
-----------------------------------------------
Old age is when former classmates are so gray
and wrinkled and bald, they don't recognize you.
----------------------------------------------
If you don't learn to laugh at trouble,
you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.
"Is it true," she wanted to know,
"that the medication you prescribed has
to be taken for the rest of my life?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so," the doctor told her.
There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied,
"I'm wondering, then, just how serious is my condition
because this prescription is marked 'NO REFILLS'."
-----------------------------------------
An older Jewish gentleman was on the operating table
awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son,
a renowned surgeon, perform the operation.
As he was about to get the anesthesia
he asked to speak to his son.
"Yes, Dad, what is it?" "Don't be nervous, son;
do your best and just remember, if it doesn't go well,
if something happens t o me ...
your mother is going to come
and live with you and your wife...."
-----------------------------------------
Aging: Eventually you will reach a point when you
stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.
------------------------------------------
The older we get, the fewer things seem
worth waiting in line for
------------------------------------------
Some people try to turn back their odometers.
Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way.
I've traveled a long way and some of the
roads weren't paved.
--------------------------------------------
How old would you be
if you didn't know how old you are?
----------------------------------------------
When you are dissatisfied and would
like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.
---------------------------------------------
You know you are getting old when everything
either dries up or leaks.
----------------------------------------------
I don't know how I got over the hill
without getting to the top.
----------------------------------------------
One of the many things no one tells you about aging
is that it is such a nice change from being young.
----------------------------------------------
Ah, being young is beautiful,
but being old is comfortable.
-----------------------------------------------
Old age is when former classmates are so gray
and wrinkled and bald, they don't recognize you.
----------------------------------------------
If you don't learn to laugh at trouble,
you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.
Friday, April 01, 2005
TEN LITTLE INDIANS
TLI
THe SHow I am producing right now FOr The Whidbey Playhouse is TEN LITTLE INDIANS. A Murder mystery by Agatha Christie. IT takes place on an Island off the4 coast of Devon, England in the middle 1940's. THere are ten strangers all invited to spend a holiday on this island, and when they all arrive they are told that their hosts would not be there.
Soon a "VOICE" narrates an Indictment accusing all ten of them of murder of someone in their lives.
Soon one of the wooden indians on the mantle falls down and one of the guests dies.
One by one, the indians fall, and one by one following the verse, the guests are murdered. SOon there are only a few left, and it is up to them to discover who REALLY murdered everyone before they too are killed.
Lights out
It is a nail biter from the 1st act, and it leaves the audience in suspense until the very end.
THis was a very hard go. As I have mentioned before. People Ill, egos getting in the way, scheduling conflicts, memory problems, Lighting equipment blowing out. ARRGGHH>
It opened tonight to a 1/2 full house, and hopefully it will fill up after word of it gets around. Our lacal newspaper did not come to press night, so that has really hurt the attendence. However, I am going to invite them to come on Sunday Afternoon, and hopefully get it into the paper before next Wednesday.
Monday and Tuesday is Auditions for the next one, and when this one closes on April 16, I can devote my time to A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. Then I take a very short break and start all over again next season with the opening show of the season. Blythe Spirit directed by ME!!!
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