New Years Resolutions

I made New Years Resolutions this year. Hooray! It's been a while, and even longer since I kept them. But here it is...

1. I am resolved to seek out joy
2. I am resolved not to yell
3. I am resolved to cut my cc debt in half
4. I am resolved to say *thank you* at least once a day

I think that's a nice little list here...it's well balanced, a little mental betterment, a little material betterment. Actually, I wish there were 5 points on the list, it would seem a bit more, concise. But hell, as it turns out, I'm not particularly concise in my overall life - and those 4 are plenty already. So there it is, my little list - and I'm pleased with it. I feel like it's enough of a challenge to keep me motivated, but not too much for me to say, "Eh, chuck it!" about 3 months in.

I started a new little moleskin in fact, yesterday - I'm going to write down the thank you's. I think it will help remind me to do it first of all, and then secondly, how great to have a record at the end of the year of all the things I have to be thankful for! I started it early, but then again, I figure, "hey, I get to make the rules here!"

All in all, things are going very well out here in the West. It's a whirlwind for sure - but as always, full of fun! The holidays were lovely. We got to spend most of Christmas Eve (after I got off work) with B's family. His folks have been out of town for months, so it was great to be there with everyone and all cheerful and well fed :) Then we had our own sweet Christmas at our house, with a fire in the fireplace and stockings full! I sure do love that man. THEN, at 11pm, we left for Lyons to surprise my mom, Jenni, Anna, Anna's fella' Ryan, and mom's dog Gilly (Mrs. McGillicuty) at the cabin. They weren't expecting us until Christmas Day, so lots of screaming and excitment ensued when we finally arrived. We stayed up until 4am (making that a 21 hour day for me) playing Apples to Apples and laughing. Good times! Two more days in the cabin saw lots more game playing, some movie watching, a little hiking, a wonderful visit from Princess Aly, her prince, and their two delightful dogs, who got along quite well with Gilly. What a wonderful time was had. Missed my dad of course this year, but we did finally get him on Skype, so got to see his face at least. :)

I'm working at Curious of course, and currently assistant directing a gorgeous production of RABBIT HOLE by David Lindsay Abaire, under the force of a director, Christy Montour Larson. I am learning so much every day from her, and from this extraordinary actors - the play's intense and emotional, and such an honor to be a part of.

B's had great news lately - the man can't be stopped! He'll be playing the lead in Paragon Theatre's production of LOVE SONG. It's a quirky and very cool play, and it opens on Valentines Day - our 3 year anniversary. Then he'll do The Golden Goose, another great children's play, at the Mizel Center...and another short film role, AND a national internet commercial. Plus, next week, his daughter will be out here visiting us for a bit. So much great stuff going on - and so much still in store!

So there it is, friends! As always, thanks so much for reading. Have a very, very Happy New Year, and I sure hope that 2009 is the year we get some good hanging out time in!

...the sun and the moon and the apple trees...

There's a fabulous lady, the princess Aly, who posted a recent blog with a little crash course in the things that she was thankful for and I thought it sounded like a divine idea...particularly as I enter hour 11 of my 13 hour workday. So here it is - a list of just a very few of the things that I am particularly thankful for.

1. For only having 2 more hours left until I can go home tonight
2. For having amazing jobs that I love, and getting to work as much as I want to most of the time
3. For being given the amazing opportunity to teach children, and teach them art...
4. For all the more things that they teach me
5. For Brian...really, he's the number one thing that I'm thankful for. He makes me laugh, he loves me something fierce, and is so beautiful and strong and a daily inspiration to me in so many ways. I am a better and more full person for the (almost) 3 years that I've spent with him, and I am the luckiest girl I know.
6. For our cozy and wonderful little house, with its fireplace...for snuggling in on snowy days
7. For Denver, and it's 300 blue days a year, and it's dry cold, and its mountain skyscape
8. For music that gets you up and dancing...especially for Elvis, and the Beatles, and Lucinda Williams
9. For great books, and the New Yorker, and scripts, and libraries and the way that books smell
10. For hot beverages
11. For the Princess Aly - the best girlfriend a girl could dream of...for her living close by, and always taking me seriously, and for our adventures, and for our inside jokes, and shared history, and for her cooking, and her taste in wine :)
12. For amazing people and friends - old and new, that I've been lucky enough to always be surrounded by (that's YOU!)
13. For a beautiful, dysfunctional, loving, rowdy, supportive, and blustery family - who may not always have it "right," but is always right for me.
14. For people who actually do read my silly blogs (that's YOU too!)
15. For raspberry cordials
16. For the chance to travel
17. For theatre. For art. For hopes and dreams. ...and Julie Taymoor and Ang Lee and Peter Brooks and Augosto Boal and Amadeo Modigliani
18. Because you believe.
19. For pizza.
20. For board games, especially Apples to Apples
21. For Mississippi with its complex history, and its ugliness, and the sometimes surprising beauty that can spring out of that ugliness
22. For a new bedspread and old teddy bears
23. For almost being done with my Christmas shopping
24. For babies
25. For life, the joyous and tragic life that it is...but all mine.

So, that felt really great - perhaps I'll do it again soon. Thanks for checking in! :)

2nd adolescence

I recently had my very first bra fitting. Pimples are popping up all over my face. I'm feeling awkwardly tall all the time. I'm wearing my emotions on the outside and finding myself a little incapable of not expressing every single feeling that comes my way. If I get less than 8 hours of sleep, I'm cranky. I can't stop singing Madonna songs off of the Like a Virgin album.

I never went through the *awkwardly tall* phase - in fact, I love being tall - always wished I was taller than I am. And suddenly, there I am, standing in a crowd of people feeling so conspicuos...wishing I could just shrink down to a less noticeable size. My voice sounds funny, and often way too loud. My feelings are hurt at the drop of a hat. Seriously, I'm 16 again. 16 was an okay time for me - not great, but not horrible...it's like I'm paying the price for not having an awful adolescence...I'm having it again, and how!

Clearly, my hormones are raging - but I'm almost 30 years old. I truly believed that these things sort of settled at some point. Still...my bra fitting was pretty exhilirating...And, my bra size is pretty porn star sexy :) And seeing Madonna at 28 is ever so much more satisfying than it would have been at 16. But could we give the hormones a rest? Please?

Laundry day

There are some things that it is remarkably easy to lose and almost impossible to find. Those of the Catholic faith even have a Saint dedicated to finding things. St Theresa? I don't remember. I did the laundry tonight, and somehow lost 2 socks...2 socks, from 2 different pairs of socks. I wish you could just lose the whole pair, why do you have to hold on to this one reminder of the glory days?

Life is sort of like that. Trust. Remarkably easy to lose and just about the hardest thing in the world to find. I wonder if St. Theresa covers trust? Not just trust in other people though, trust in yourself. Somehow, it seems like it all goes hand in hand. Lose trust in someone else, suddenly the whole world looks suspicious, yourself included.

And what I can't figure outis how to go on without trust. You can put on your happy face, work out all your forgiveness and issues - but if you can't trust again...well, you might as well have just put on those two odd socks. One is pink and white striped, one is black with green hearts on it...one is an ankle sock while one reaches up towards your calf. The job is effectively done, your feet are warm and protected...but something just doesn't feel right. All day you walk around with those two socks feeling like an extension of your whole self - lopsided, awkward, wrong.

The jitters

Election Day is here! This campaign has gone on FOREVER...but it's been pretty exhilirating. And the day is here now. I voted last week, so there wasn't much to do, I guess. And I keep hearing about how electric the day is...but you know what? I just feel jittery. Tense, anxious, good, and energetic, but with no where to focus that energy. Change. Hope. ...Faith. I think that's the point, right? We do everything that we can, and then we have faith. We hope. So I'm hoping, and I'm wearing my Obama Hope tee-shirt (admittedly, in part for the political support inherent and in part for the kitsch...yeah, that's how I am), and I'm waiting. I hope. I hope for a better nation than the one we live in, I hope for a better world - I think Barack Obama is a step in the right direction. But for now, I wait, and I hope.

Which is funny actually - this election day is not a far off parallel from many other aspects of our lives, huh? An obstacle arises, we do everything that we can and ultimately realize that it's outside of our *control*. So we hope. We wait, and pray, and be as kind and as full of love as we can.

I'm a leeeetle bit of a control freak, it's true. So I find this part of life particularly, uh, challenging (read, knashing of teeth, pulling out of hair). But, as you would probably guess, in the end there's nothing I can really do about it, except for wait, and hope, and pray - and apologize to those folks who happened to be nearby during the teeth knashing/hair pulling debacle.

"God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference"

Yeah...

**By the way, there's a ton of great theatre out there right now. If you're reading this and you're around Denver - check out November (David Mamet's new(est?) work) at the Avenue Theatre (you'll appreciate it this month like you never may again) I Am My Own Wife at Theatreworks in Colorado Springs, and particularly...Speech & Debate at Curious Theatre (you may never STOP smiling), and B(loved)'s newest play at Boulder Ensemble Theatre, FAT PIG. You may know how I feel about Neil Labute anyway, and you definitely know how I feel about B's work...plus, dear friends Jeremy Make and Kate Avallone are in it...it's smart, funny, incidious...you'll love it and hate yourself (sounds like a good time, right :)

Go out, support local arts!

Thank you.

To my love,

Thank you for your perspective. For your kindness, and your patience. Thank you for loving life - for dancing, for inspiration. Thank you for teaching me that it's perfectly alright to be happy with a situation that is less than ideal. Thank you for forgiveness - for giving and receiving it. And every day, thank you for your laughter, your smile, your eyes.

Thank you.

Recommitment, forgiveness, and a little attitude adjustment

I am feeling extraordinarily dissatisfied at the moment. A fleeting feeling, I know. Still...for something as transient and insubstantial as an *emotion* - this one sure has me pretty grumpy. What I'd like to do is write down a list of the things that I want, the things I'm lacking, the reasons why I'm justified to be in a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad mood. So, I'm going to do that - IF I still want to after writing down a list of all the wonderful things...all the reasons that I love living in Denver, and all the things there are to be happy about, all the ways in which I'm beautifully blessed.

It's fall, and starting to get chilly! Teaching at the Denver Center started again today and I love my kids! I treated myself to a grande nonfat iced latte this morning. We have a washer and dryer in our house so I don't have to take hours out of an otherwise wonderful afternoon to go do laundry, I'm doing it RIGHT NOW! Tacos for lunch. Taco flavored kisses. Watching videos of K.K. Yesterday, Aly came to Denver and we had an awesome breakfast, and we got our makeup done at MAC and it was wonderful. I feel pretty. Chalkboards. Going to the mountains. Being surrounded by artists. Big sky country. More *blue* days than anywhere else in the country. Listening to a gorgeous Mexican singer on NPR this morning. Remembering Ireland. Knee high socks. Photographs. Not being at work for the afternoon. Loving my job(s). One door opening just as another one closes.

It's just over one year since I moved to Denver...the time when...for the past several years, I've picked up and moved again. I'm noticing a pattern...the first year(ish) is great, everything is so new - it's like a challenge to get to know a place, and people. But then, after that first year, when it's so exciting...I start to sit back and say "now what? shouldn't I be farther along that this?" So I move on to someplace else. The only thing is, I really love Denver, and Colorado. And I've found a good art scene here, and love is here, and I want to be here. So, I'm here, I'm committed (I just bought Colorado plates last week!), and I'm just going to embrace my neurosis and live it up!

This is me world, I may be grumpy and selfish and sometimes way too critical - but I'm also full of love, and wonder, and joy - and I've got a lot to give...and if you think you can put up with me - let's do it!

Broken

These days something is broken inside me. I wonder if it's always been broken? What is it that's wrong with me?

How can a person know what she wants, love without bounds - and stand in her own way...always wanting what I can't have?

How can one person make so many mistakes?

A long shower, and a hot meal cooking on the stove...

At Dublin castle.
Part of the Guiness Factory compound


Love from Dublin!!

Home again, home again, jiggety jig. I miss being on holiday already. I miss Europe and the magic of country Ireland, the splendor and excitement of London, and the just feel good - good time of Dublin. But, at the moment, I'm just so damned glad to be home!

After something like 36 hours of travel...we left Dublin by bus at 5:30p on Sunday. Arrived at Shannon airport around 10:30pm...camped out on benches until 5am...then hopped a plane back to Dublin!!! ACK! To catch another plane, 3 hours later to Chicago...then 3 hours after that...finally, back to Denver. B. and I swung for a cab. It was expensive, and worth it. We've been home for two hours now - we're mostly unpacked - have had hot showers, have the SECOND load of laundry going, dinner's cooking on the stove, and there's a fresh bottle of wine opened (after all, holidays not REALLY over until 10am tomorrow!) :)

Dublin was wonderful. On Saturday it rained. All day. But I had a terrific "traditional Irish meal" at The Celt, just around the corner from our hostel. Beef and Guiness stew with chips, followed by a Bailey's Bread Pudding. We attempted to catch Oscar Wilde's The Ideal Husband at the Abbey (also just around the corner from our hostel) but it was sold out (not such good luck with the theatre going this trip). As it turned out - we were pretty comatose from the meal anyway so we called it an early night. Which was fine, that being the last good sleep we'd get for the next two days.

Then, on Sunday - we did the double decker bus sight seeing tour of Dublin. I know they sound cheesy, and I've always been pretty disdainful of that sort of touristy thing. I've changed my tune now though. Especially if you've just got a day or two - it's such an amazing way to get to see all of the city and to hear just enough bits of the history to make you want to learn more. We did hop off at Kilmainhain Gaol (I'm sure I'm butchering the spelling, I'll look it up later) - a Victorian prison that was in use until 1924. The tour was fascinating, and I started to learn a lot more about the Irish political situation. Did you know that the Irish flag has the most beautiful meaning. The green stands for the Republicans, the Orange for the Royalists, and the white in between signifies peace between the two. I love it!

At any rate - the tours were great - and since we did the one in London we got cheap tickets for the one in Dublin, AND your ticket is good for 24 hours so you can also use the bus as your public transport a little bit. On both trips our tour guides were great, very informative - with great senses of humour and anecdotal knowledge. In Dublin he even sang Molly Malone for us. :)

Also - in Dublin - also, ridiculously cheesy in appearance but an altogether pleasing hostel experience was Paddy's Palace. It's right downtown on the North (I think) side of the River Liffey next to the bus station...very centrally located, cheap, with good amenities, and super friendly people. They absolutely saved us, particularly Daniel. Thanks Daniel! Ailish suggested that we bring hershey's chocolate and give it out, since they can't get it there. We did that and it was much appreciated and met with smiles.

In the next couple of days (weeks?) as B. processes pictures, I'll be posting some of his more artistic shots and probably reflecting more on the highlights...the things that are still percolating. But for the time being, we're home - I'm going to go fold some laundry...and talk to you all soon! Love and Miss you!! Thanks again for reading!

A few more pictues before sleeping the last night in Europe...

The Globe...after disovering they were sold out
Brian has lunch with his friend Charlie.

All photos in this blog are by either me or Brian. Most of the good ones...and the

ones of me (clearly) are by B.loved.

Whoops! HERE are some more pictures!

Some more pictures!

In Dublin fair city -

We're in Dublin now, for the last leg of the trip - until tomorrow night when we catch the late night bus to Shannon for our early morning flight back stateside. My, is it fine!

So yesterday - we took the Underground in the morning to catch the British rail from Euston Station. Tensions were running high as we were exhausted - physically, emotionally... Four hours on a train through England and Wales later - we'd reached our fancy ferry boat to carry us from Holyhead, Wales back to Dublin, Ireland. We slept a lot. Arrived in Dublin - called Rita's sister Elaine who had to work late - and decided to check in at the hostel which had so comfortably put us up earlier in the week. Paddy's Palace. The name is, of course, tragic - but the people are friendly, the bathrooms are big, the rates are cheap, and the rooms are PRIVATE! We made the decision then that rather than try to lug things around for the rest of the weekend that we'd stay here at the hostel - and suddenly - the weight lifted from all of us. We were so relieved to know that here we were - in the last leg of our trip, no longer having to plan for the next stage, having to lug our bags around to get to the next train...the bus station is around the corner! Perfection!

Now, with a new lightness in our hearts, we set off for the Cobblestone - a proper Irish bar with live sessions every night. Wow! Last night, at least ten musicians sat in a circle, playing the fiddle, the flute, the Irish whistle, the guitar, the bagpipes, the accordion...one man sang a ballad about the INA. A stunning night - and dinner from the grocery store across the street where I had yet another samosa! (They're so good!) I missed our good friends Kat and Jo so bad. They introduced me to this music, and they gave me a love for it.

Today we'll explore Dublin a little. We'll hopefully get to catch up with Elaine and meet the lovely Rita's sister! And enjoy these last precious moments of our trip. Every time I go away, it reminds me of how much there is to see, how many people there are to meet - I need more time - more time in the places that I've been, more time to explore new places.

Still, the time that we have is a blessing. Drink it up! Live it fully. And remember, every step of the way - stay true to yourself, trust the universe, and travel in peace!

(I'm feeling a little, overwhelmed? gregarious? ...like something grand needs to be said to commemorate this time)

Some photos :)

England Day 3...

Three days in England now...one traveling mostly...and two seeing everything it was possible to see in London in two days. We didn't catch the Globe show tonight...it was sold out. Par for the course for this trip, but as it turns out - everything that's gone wrong has turned out to be perfectly right. What a lesson there is in that.

The wine we drank at dinner last night was called "Outra Vida" - meaning "the other life" and it refers to the life that we make for ourselves outside of the toil and turmoil of everyday things...the life of relaxation and enjoying every moment. It was good too :)

Today we saw the changing of the guard. Pretty magnificent, all that pomp and circumstance. And the guard band during the changing played Goldfinger. The lovely English lady with her son who's just recently turned "proper teenager" told the boys that the band was "getting jiggy with it." Her proper teenaged son seemed mortified.

Then on to a second lunch at the Spar convenience store. The best lamb simosas I've ever imagined...and a hike to Covent gardens where I bought some handmade wooden flowers. Eliza Doolittle never had it so good!

We wandered a lot today - not necessarily 'accomplishing' so much, but lots of exploration and delightful finds. We RAN down southbank for about 30 minutes to catch the Globe production of Midsummer, but alas, it was sold out. I stood in queque for about 20 minutes to see about returns, but the 3 fellows from Cali standing in front of me got the last 3 groundling tickets. Bummer. Ah well, got a poster at the gift shop, and a flake (the best ice cream cone EVER) at the gates, and c'est la vie. We walked back down Southbank, enjoying the MANy sights this time and back to the hostel where there's a rousing barbeque going on.

New friends Jill (from Virginia) and Liz (from Australia) were hanging out, so we shared some wine and an Australian sing a along with them. Jill is a grad student in Russian at UVA who's traveling now after spending 3 months in Moscow and St. Petersburg and Jill is a writer from Australia who's traveling, probably chasing love, but she's getting over it...and writing a book on spirituality and women and who we are after we rid ourselves of the constraints of social, familial, cultural, etc. influences. Both fascinating women and it's been a pleasure to share a little chatter with them.

Tomorrow we leave the hostel at 7am... to catch our rail and sail (train then ferry) back to Dublin to explore and stay with Rita's sister, Elaine. After two beautiful days in England, I'm almost a little hesitant to return to the rain of Ireland (all my luggage is by now a little damp). Then I remember that it's Ireland...and exquisite...and my soul sings.

Only three more days really, until our return, and I kind of can't believe it. In some ways I'm anxious to get home...to the ease and the comfort of familiarity...and you own bathroom :) But I could stay here so much longer. And meeting folks at the hostel - so many people from so many places, who travel all over the world. I need to go to Spain and Australia...to explore Wales, and go to Scotland. In our room (8 beds), we have three Indonesia guys who are doing an internship in Germany and traveling sporatically during...one girl from Australia who's just been at summer camp in Boston and is now spending the next 3 months traveling Europe before returning home...and last night a wonderful IT girl from Wales who got conversations going about immigration laws and cultural perceptions.

Don't know if I'll get to blog much more...thanks for reading. But I promise many pictures to ensue in the coming weeks as we get home and get situated! Although...we're off and running as soon as we return. B. got cast in a film (he's the villian and gets to shave his head!) that begins filming four days after our return. The Isle of Capri - in appreciation of my new membership, has offered us a free room...AND...my dearest princess Aly is getting married in a few short weeks. The adventure continues. Talk to you soon!

Did I mention the lunar eclipse?

Did I? Full moon. Coastal Ireland. Just after a rain, clouds are parting. Lunar eclipse. Seriously? Seriously.

In London today - seriously ridiculous getting here, my mistakes, but ah well, it added to the adventure right? And as it turns out, had to rent a car in Wales, I drove 6 hours to London. I love Wales. Definitely on my list to get back to. The driving was fun...stressful, yes. But fun.

Today - 8:30am-11pm, walked, took a double decker bus, river boat tour - learned quite a bit, saw A LOT! did the coolest things...ate at the oldest pub in England (lovely), walked Tower Bridge (while it was going up!), go Paddington Bear and book for K.K. (a must!), took pictures with the Royal Guard (what an AWFUL job...felt cheesy doing it, but it had to be done...), saw the changing of the Royal Mount (their horses are huge and gorgeous), did you know that the London Hilton was supposed to be 5 stories higher, but from the 5th floor penthouse you could see into the Queen's bedroom (oops! Plans cancelled.), and that the Marble Arch used to be outside Buckingham Palace but Queen Victoria hated it so much that she had a carriage made that was too wide to get through it so they moved the arch (wow!)

At any rate...got to make plans to get back to Dublin on Friday. Globe tomorrow night for Midsummer (yay!)...

This hostel was supposed to have wifi. It doesn't. Bummer.

Cheers!

I should edit these things...

Just in case you're confused...

I wrote 'we'll be in Dublin tomorrow' and MEANT

We'll be in LONDON tomorrow!

:)

The Adventure Continues...

So much to tell...and I'm paying by the minute and trying to figure out how to get to London, so it will be brief. Kenny's show on Saturday was brilliant - the weather was even great, and the audience was doubled. People actually DID come both nights, and they're talking about it, and excited about what we did. It was completely gratifying.

We left Baltimore (sadly) this morning, drove to Cork and tried to find a ferry. Hysterical moment where I ran up to check the times and the ferry was closed. D'oh! Eventually, we went back to the original plan...dropped the car off at the airport, and got on a bus to Dublin. Tonight we arrived in Dublin, found a hostel for cheap nearby and are currently working on our plans to get to London in the morning. All these planes, trains, and automobiles (read...buses, traines, and ferrys) are VERY confusing. Still, I'm not concerned...we'll be in Dublin tomorrow - I did manage to book that hostel in advance. Sadly the dorms are separated by gender so I'll have to hang out in the girls dorm...but what can you do? Make more money, I suppose :)

It's truly an adventure and Dublin is BEAUTIFUL! We'll only be here for a few hours tonight, but back on Friday to hang with lovely Rita's sister Elaine and see some of Dublin properly!

I'll write more later once we have wifi in the London hostel! Cheers!

The land of song and story

It's Saturday, a little after noon - and all the boys are in rehearsal now...so I thought I'd pop up to Casey's Hotel and Pub to use their internet. £2 a half hour, but it's ridiculously faster than the internet connection at our house...so worth it to catch up for a moment. I tried yesterday to upload some pictures at the house, but the connection's too slow...so it may be upon our return before there are pics. Sorry about that :(

At any rate - the version of The Zoo Story that I directed went up last night. Crazy day. We had a really great rehearsal in the morning, except that about 5 pp from the end, it began raining. It rained, and rained, and rained...for the rest of the day. Finally, Kenny and I decided there was no way to perform in the open air ampitheatre, so we made the official call - the performance space would change to the courtyard at the cafe...there's a tarp that covers it (mostly) from the rain. B. and L. came up to check out the space at 6pm...they walked through some of the blocking, then went back to the house to get ready. By this time, it was a wild storm - gale winds blowing, torrential rain, the whole deal. The tarp keeps you mostly dry, but there's nothing to cut down the sounds (amplified by the plastic tarp) or the biting winds. PLUS, we''d never rehearsed in that space. With the storms, we had an intimate house of 9 people. And they LOVED IT! One group stayed for dinner afterwards and spent their entire meal discussing the play. They're coming back tonight to see the other version. Another pair of people stopped B. and L. after the performance and talked to them about it for a good 20 minutes. They loved it. And it was so gratifying to see a performance - with so many challenges built into the atmosphere, that was so well received and spurred so much discussion. I was exceptionally proud of both the actors. They adapted quite well to the space, and the noise...they connected beautifully with one another, and truly told the story.

A little strangely anticlimactic...my show is over. Wow. But it was good - and it reached people. It truly reached people. I'm excited to see how things go this evening. AND...from here on out, for another 8 days - we're on vacation!

We'll stick around in Baltimore until Monday morning (amongst much protest. Jo, one of the Perry sisters, has mounted a campaign to keep us here for the duration of the trip. It's tempting too...on Monday, here at Casey's they have a jam session with musicians from around the area. Jo pulls out her fiddle, Liz and Tessa will play and sing...and who knows what else. THEN, a midnight kayaking trip at Loch Hiyne...a lake that has phospherents (sp?) in it, making it glow at night...yeah, tempting) and then we'll head off to London. I hate to leave it here, but I have to admit, I'm excited for the Globe - we'll get to see AT LEAST a production of Midsummer there, and since I've been reading "The Story of England" I really want to explore The Tower and some of the more historical places that I skipped over the last time I was there. B's going to Stonehenge - WOW - ...THEN, back to Dublin for a couple of days in an Irish city. There are parts of this trip that are a little whirlwind, but I'm loving it.

Last night, after the performance, B., L., Kenny and I hung out with Jo and Tess (we're living at the house with Tess, she came here 11 years ago, planning to stay for the summer, and never left). First we ate at a.mazing dinner at the cafe, hung out, drank some wine, laughed...then up to Casey's pub for a rousing game of Switch. A card game - it's very complicated, but pretty raucous and terrific.

Oh, and the night before - to celebrate L''s birthday (as if dancing on a cliff in the middle of the night wasn't enough), we went to Skibereen to Paragon's pub. Live music (an Irish guy covering American bands) and a game of Cricket on the tv. B. and I were hungry and by the time we got there no one was serving food except for an Indian take out place. It turned out to be an amazing deal - £21 and we got great Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan, and a pizza for B. (they served Indian, Irish, and American food :). The best food deal so far I think...I'm tempted to go back there now!

Every minute is packed with amazing moments. I think that there's something especially magical in the air here. The food at Glebe Gardens is terrific. Jean Petty (mom) gets up at 5am to bake fresh Rosemary rolls with rosemary from the gardens. Last night we had a ravioli, the pasta was made fresh, and Jo had prepared the filling...ricotta, parmesan, mint, thyme...some other things, I don't remember...but all perfect. It's quite simple to imagine coming here for holiday and deciding never to leave.

OH! and the wishing tree...on Thursday, we went to Loch Hiyne, a lake with a forest around it. Kenny walked us all back through the forest where the trees stretch up so high and the like breaks through in quivering squares. It was magical. Then, you come upon this delightful little mark. The Wishing Tree. It's a small tree, with a root system that has created a small pool. And to it, people have attached...anything. Pieces of ribbon, a waterford crystal clock, lighters, rocks, beads, and coins of every nation in the pool. We left a Zoo Story/Pure High flyer and an American coin. I wished for two things.

So that covers the highlights. There's been a lot more tea, wonderful chocolate, some napping, more walking, listening, drinking it in, drinking it up...just basically, the most perfect time you could imagine. I'm off to enjoy some more of it!

It's All Happening!

We began the trip in a bar in the Denver airport at 11am, the three of us sharing a drink to kick off our trip to Ireland. The idea began over drinks one evening just over four months ago - and here we were! The show is beautiful, and our very own company is taking it to Ireland. Looking at the words, sitting at a computer in Ireland where I just discovered a few key differences, I still can't believe it!

At any rate, the flights were easy. Thirteen hours actually almost flew by. I found it entirely impossible to sleep, but all in all - never really felt the effects of over 24 hours without it. We flew from DIA to Chicago O'Hare...then from Chicago to Dublin...and finally, in a short little 45 minute flight (we barely had time to reach cruising altitude before beginning our descent) we arrived in Shannon, picked up our rental car and we were off! The car is delightfully small, but fit the three of us AND our luggage quite well. It gets amazing gas mileage (or would you say kilometerage?), and as it turns out, the whole "wrong side of the car" thing isn't too hard. Although shifting gears with your left hand just feels wrong and sitting in the front passenger seat is a terrifying experience! Brian drove, without incident - he really is the best driver I know.

We made it to Cork in great time, even stopping at some old castle ruins to take pictures with the cows ambling amongst them, and having a hearty lunch of Sizzling Sirloin Steak (real Irish beef...and it was SIZZLING!...we got some video of the steak!), french fries, mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, and some sort of other vegetable that tasted like an incredibly bland yam at the Roundabout Inn in Mallow.

However, in what should have been an hour and 45 minute drive from Cork to Baltimore - we managed to get so lost, so many times...that it took us almost 5 more hours!! One lane roads (thanks for the advice Rita, they really WON''T get over!), tossing the map aside and using only my compass, and spending 45 minutes unable to leave the town of Dunmanway, driving in endless circles. But finally we made it - arriving in Baltimore and at Glebe Gardens around 7pm on Tuesday evening. If you're going to be wildly lost anyway, I'd recommend West Cork Ireland.

We met up with Kenny right away and first things first, walked down to the space where we'll be performing on Friday and Saturday nights. Stunning. The ampitheatre overlooks the water, and it's so green that it almost looks neon. Then - to the house where we're staying with Tessa and Laura - and back to Glebe Gardens for a barbeque and live music by John Spilirne, a local singer and comedian! It was the perfect welcome to Ireland! I went to bed around 11 that night - although the boys stayed up and went to Casey's, a local pub, for drinks.

Up the next morning at 8am for a trip into Skibereen (only a few miles away) for groceries, postage stamps, etc. Baltimore has one atm, a few b&b's, and about 6 pubs - that, and the most amazing scenery at ever turn that I've ever seen! We had breakfast at a little cafe - I could have stayed there all day, and the tea was divine. Then back to Baltimore for a walk to the beacon - at the top of a cliff, looking right now onto rocky crags below with the ocean beating against them. It was raining and the wind was blowing so hard. I told the boys that that place was my idea of heaven.

Then onto rehearsal - Kenny's version, a quick break for dinner, then mine. There are some things to compensate for - it's tough on their voices, being outside, with the wind blowing...and there's a wonderful dog, Woody, who belongs at the Glebe, and hangs out (usually in the space) at all performances. But after making a few adjustments, we were able to get in a terrifically productive few hours.

Then, while Kenny worked at the Cafe - we went down to the town center, right on the water...a row of 3 pubs and some outside seats to pass out flyers for the show this weekend. We've gotten some good press. Kenny put up posters all over Baltimore and Skibereen...the newspaper is running an ad starting today...and hopefully we'll have nice houses. Although, everyone here is dismayed - it's rained incessantly and they just don't have the tourists down here that they're used to. Baltimore is pretty much a town that makes its yearly income during the three month holiday season, so it really could be bad for them. At any rate, sat outside, shivering, sharing wine and whiskey with some new friends until around 11:30 when the pubs close. Then, Rohan, Kez's fiancee (the three Perry sisters who come home every summer to work at Glebe Gardens with their folks who own it are Jo, Tess, and Kez...then apparently, the Perry's have adopted a number of surrogate children as well who come in from all over the world for these three months to work at the cafe, tend the huge gardens, and facilitate the music and theatre concerts) mentioned to Brian that he was planning on going to the cove to shoot the moon later in the night, and asked if we'd like to join. Would we ever?!

So at 12:30 - Kenny, Laurence, Brian, Rohan, and I loaded up in our little car and drove to this tiny little cove with cliffs on either side and the tide lapping at our feet on a rocky shore. The moon was directly in front of us and straight up, with a direct path of light reaching from the horizon line to our feet. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. They took pictures and I just sat and drank it up. Stunning. I'm finding it difficult to believe that it was real actually. THEN, as the moon passed by that spot (do we ever realize how FAST the moon moves) - we drove to the other side of town, climbed back up the rocky cliffs to the beacon - and began experimenting with light up there. The photos they captured are unbelievable - some of them seeming almost supernatural...and I can't believe it really happened! It has also just turned into Laurence's birthday...what a way to welcome in your Jesus year! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURENCE! Also, it's mine and B''s 2 and a half year anniversary! :)

This morning we all slept later than we intended. The boys woke up and ran straight to rehearsal with Kenny. They'll rehearse for a few hours in the early part of the day...then we'll embark on a short little midday adventure...then back to rehearse with me this evening for a while more. The show goes up tomorrow evening - already, the time is passing too quickly!

I'll write more when I can. Just wanted to let everyone know that we're here, and it's marvelous! I'm off to go write a bit and have some tea! Cheers!

Attitude Adjustment

Some of you may have noticed. I have not been having an easy time of it inside my head. I, as it turns out, have not been happy. Humph. Of course, as always, I was the last to know.

However, upon reflection - I have decided that there is exactly NO reason in the world for me NOT to be happy, to have peace and direction. To be joy, and love. I am those things and more. And furthermore - life is pretty Trrific! I do what I love, I do who I love ;) - and I love where I am. I also began reading The Secret. I don't usually go in for that sort of thing (and I admit, I'm reading it slowly, interspersed with scripts and New Yorkers...a side of cynicism you know, to keep things balanced) but I'm liking it. I wake up every morning and I begin saying thank you - and then I keep saying it all the live long day. I'm like a slightly more fashion conscious monk, walking around all the time chanting, "thank you for..." "Thank you for letting the car place near my work not have time for me so that I got to walk a mile in 90 degree weather to pay $600 and then walk back, thus getting some exercise, time to talk to my sister, and an appreciation for just WHY I need to pay that much money so that my car will run!" That sort of thing, you know?

AND IT WORKS! Weird. I'm happy. And as it turns out, I think I've been happy all along. AND...the other great thing about saying thank you all the time - not only do I appreciate the world and just about everything in it these days - but it doesn't give my KF***ED radio station in my brain (are you Anne Lamott fans?) a chance to bring in all the ugly little "what if's" that it loves to do. I'm too busy saying thank you to hear it.

Of course, I'm willing to admit that this particular joy today just MAY have something to do with the 3 day weekend that I'm about an hour away from!

Happy 4th of July. Did you know that Vicksburg, MS didn't celebrate the 4th until sometime in the 1990's BECAUSE we lost a major siege (that would be the Siege of Vicksburg, folks!) during the Civil War on July 4th. Yep. But then the casinos came in, and they didn't care about that sort of thing. That's where I'm from. :)

Too Little Too Late

A few years back, I wronged a girl. A sister, if you will. She handled it beautifully, and said something that has sat with me since then. I introduced myself to her, innocently - and believing that I had all the power - she responded simply with "I know who you are."

I am deeply sorry. My only excuse is youth, inexperience - I didn't yet know what it was to have your heart broken. I hope it's not, but I'm sure the sting is there. Years after I've moved on and found blissful happiness. And I did that.

It's among about 3 things in my life that I truly regret, and absolutely the most heinous of the three.

I am so deeply sorry. I wish I could say it to you.

You gave me the tools to find forgiveness and understanding. I thank you for that. This week I've found the way to forgiveness, to peace. To understanding. It's a hard lesson to learn and tough pill to swallow and every other cliche out there - but I've found it. After hurting in the way that I hurt you.

Thank you, and I'm sorry, N.

Panic is setting in.

I know that I have trouble keeping perspective on things. "This too shall pass"...I KNOW it, of course - but in that moment when everything inside seems twisted outside and I just want to scream and tear at my hair and generally melt down, it's not so helpful - those things that I rationally know. So these days I'm having a little trouble keeping the panic down somewhere around belly level - not letting it surge up into my chest, my throat, finally spewing tragically out of my mouth. Incidentally, my stomach's hurt for days - but I have a feeling that's better than letting loose my demons, my internal disasters on the entire world. What might feel good is curling up in a ball and crying for a few weeks. It most likely would feel awful though, as those things do - puffy face all stopped up, red, and blotchy - eyes worn out and dried out -

Usually, if I can pull the thought train up to a stop right around this point, I can take a deep breath, blow out the smoke, and come back to myself, to the world of enjoying the small miracles, the everyday joy of living. But not always - I'm trying it right now and it doesn't seem to be working. I'd like to start shrieking and crying in fact. I won't. But that's where I am.

I'm sleepy. I'm working too many jobs and I've been working too many jobs for too long and I'm highly educated (not TOO highly...), I'm talented, I'm hard working - and I don't understand why I keep doing this to myself - working myself to the bone for a few dollars here, someone throwing me a little bone there...it's pathetic. And I'm acting as though I'm a worker bee. Like I have nothing true to offer but all of my time and energy. And of course, everyone works their asses off, but often people get to at least enjoy a beer after work with their colleagues. I, on the other hand - have to run off to another job - never getting to enjoy or reap the benefits of the inside jokes, the comradery of working your asses off together.

I get one day off a week (most of the time) - and lately, B. has been working especially hard on those days. Which means I virtually never see him.

I'm feeling more outside of things than ever. I'm exhausted, and can't seem to figure out a practical way NOT to be exhausted. I don't have five minutes for a phone call with a friend, much less an actual social encounter. I'm an outsider - everywhere I am, and I just want to go inside - curl up, share a cup of coffee and a laugh.

I miss those days - the days of sharing things.

10 years later...

Things are going beautifully - Summer's here(ish)...I'm learning to always add that "ish" since I've lived here...in gorgeous Colorado. I went to my first Red Rocks concert with new and dear friend Kate on Tuesday. It was REM, Modest Mouse and The Nationals. What an amazing place - it's like all your dreams come true. You know how, you see something absolutely beautiful, you're standing in a moment of true natural beauty...and you're thinking "all this is so perfect, it could only be SLIGHTLY better if there was a soundtrack...some live music..." Well, when you're in Red Rocks - you don't have to think that. And there is this huge hill of beautiful people, and there are stuffed pretzels :), and you're sharing it with a good friend, and life is good. Yeah. That's what it's like - it's like all the best things in life at once. That's Red Rocks.

Things are constantly busy - I'm directing a short piece for the TCG convention, and that's amazing. Next week is the convention and that promises to be incredible, invigorating, and incredibly sleepless :) Yesterday I had training for the Denver Center's summer program - it's a little strange not to be IN CHARGE of the summer camp, I have to admit - but this program is amazing, it's a well oiled machine and I can't wait to do it, and learn so much.

Brian's shooting a bunch of films, and today a wedding, AND rehearsing non stop for The Zoo Story...oh! I start MY Zoo Story rehearsals in two weeks as well. Wow - where does time go? Before we know it, we'll be returning from Ireland and ready to get going on the next big project!

Yeah - life is good. And I'm 28 this year. I always thought I'd be having babies by the time I was 28 - but then you know, life happens, and I couldn't be happier about where it's brought me. It is, however, the year of the high school reunions. My Vicksburg reunion (Warren Central High School - the Vikings) was Memorial Day weekend. I didn't go. I considered it, for a minute, but I didn't even graduate from that school anyway - ultimately, I caught up on some hours at Oilily - and called it a holiday :) However, MSMS reunion is in October - and before that - the girls of the classes of '97 and '98 are having a weekend reunion as well. I really kind of want to go to both. I was looking at pictures today and suddenly couldn't remember my senior prom. I think that had a lot to do with the lemon drops that Bri and I were shooting in the bathroom (is there a statue of limitations on confession for that sort of thing??)... Let's see - my date was John Imes. We'd been going out for a month or so, but he'd just left me for another Kate (last name, don't currently remember...she became a photographer, we met up again years later when she was shooting for the JFP...cool girl, certainly not worth the bad feelings I held for her). Still, we decided to go to prom together - mostly it was about my girls - Breezy, Julie, Lauren, Anna (were we still friends then, or had things gone sour?) We called ourselves B.I.T.C.H. - and we were. Absolutely. Funny all the things that seemed so important then. I think that Prom was at the Air Force base...dinner beforehand??? can't remember... Party afterwards? REALLY can't remember...I'm sure it was at a hotel somewhere, yes? After the '97 prom debacle with my mom - everything else sort of pales... I remember my dress - hideous - pale purple, actually a bridesmaids dress, but we finally bought it after hours of searching to no avail. The pictures are ludicrous. John Imes was about 5 feet tall. I am about 6 feet tall. The photographer had me stand behind me with my arms over his shoulders - he looks effiminate, I look amazonian - not the way an 18 year old girl imagines herself at all. Senior prom was sort of a disastrous memory all around. And yet, a fond one.

As, it turns out, are most of my MSMS memories. I remember that it was often terrible - getting by on no more than 3 hours of sleep at a time, working harder than I've ever worked before or since, knowing that I was rushing harder and faster at actually FAILING chemistry no matter what I did...heartache, heartbreak, the gossip and the tole that it was taking on all of us. The sadness when your friends broke under it, the seeming intolerance and rigid dictatorship of dorm rules, the absolute frustration of indorm, any punishment, when you were already under so much. I KNOW THAT. I know that sometime in my senior year I started driving home every weekend just to sleep for days at a time, I know that I begged my parents to let me come home sometimes (they would have, if I'd meant it), and cried in the middle of classes. And YET, despite all of that. I loved it there - I loved that time, and I have nothing but fond memories of MSMS. My beautiful, dear Julesberry just found me on facebook and we've exchanged a few emails. It makes me happy - nostalgic - and glad to share these particular memories with these particular people.

Getting my first tattoo, then sneaking over to my favorite teacher's house to show her (they filled up a beer huggie with candies and sang Happy Birthday). Sneaking out with Tanya and Carson during the letter ceremony to get Happy Hour Sonic Rte 44 Fresh Lime Slushes. Drama conventions, roommates, meals in the cafeteria (thankfully the only time in my life I've routinely eaten my meals in any type of cafeteria), East Bank, West Bank, Lake Lowndes, Ann Lee's - just getting in the car on Friday evening and knowing that you had approximately 6 hours (depending on your priviledge plan) of your own - amazing how memories start to flood back as you begin to think about it, write about it.

I probably won't make it back for the reunions. Lame, probably - but there's so much PRESENT life going on, who can take the time to look backwards? Still, I bet I can make an hour or two to sit down and go through my old scrapbook.

Top Five Nights of my Life!

5. One night at Jazzfest with Maggie - the first time I went. We spent the day in the sun, dancing at the African stage, drinking iced herbal teas...we heard Van Morrison and Sarah Maclachlan...we were pooped! Then afterwards, over to some friends of her parents house for my first crawfish party - I think we both fell asleep at their house before it was even time to leave. It was in that trip that I discovered my hair was curly and that being whoever we are was beautiful! (1996)

4. The night on a ferry boat from Greece to Italy - I stood at the front of the boat, looking up at the stars until sailors from the captains deck called down to me and invited me up to watch from their lookout. It was amazing, the sky was bigger than I'd ever known it to be, I saw my first shooting star that night, and finally understood that there was something so beautiful in having such a quiet moment alone, keeping it in your heart forever. (1996)

3.. The night Brian surprised me in Chicago...we were supposed to have a phone date and he kept texting me and putting it off and finally he called, I looked out my window - and instead of being in Denver, he was right there on Argyle street. I'd never felt as loved, romantic movie like - AND after missing him for the first month we were apart, I was overjoyed to see him again. (2006)

2. The night my first play - David's Redhaired Death - opened. My family was all there, Aly was there, my mentor Andrea was there, the actresses were amazing. It was the beginning of my directing career, and the cast party afterwards at my house was great fun! All around - combined my love for art, passion for directing, and family and friends! (2002)

1. Last night - May 30, 2008 - the inaugural fundraiser for mine and Brian's brand new company - Pure High Arts, LLC. The event was so much fun, all the wonderful friends and strangers who were there - united in their love and support of good art, good theatre, and new endeavors. We were overwhelmed by the support from the community, and the reaffirmation of how when the time and the people are right - the world opens its arms to you. This is the right project for us, right now, and our future is wide open and wonderful! (2008)

Salut!

I need to take just a minute to give the universe and every person in it a big hug! There are so many brilliant quotations running through my head right now...

"I've always relied on the kindness of strangers..." - Tennessee Williams

"At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you" Goerthe

Just a very few short months ago - I sat at a table with three brilliant artists and dear friends, including my very own most beautiful beloved - and we decided that now was the right time, we were going to leap in and commit to producing our own play and taking it to festival in...IRELAND! You get the right people together, at the right time, and magic happens.

From that point, B. and I started our own production company - Pure High Arts, LLC - and we sat down to raise some money. Tomorrow night is our very first fundraiser - A Night with the Zoo - we're hosting a benefit and without nonprofit status or a name that anyone (yet!) recognizes - we've already been donated a space, wine, terrific local beer from Breckenridge Brewery , and food by one of my favorite Denver restaurants - Dazzle Restaurant and Jazz. On top of that, we've had almost 30 outstanding prizes donated for a drawing that will last all night - AND we've put together a promotional video on the project. Friends and family have been pouring in with their support, both financial, emotional, and word of mouth - AND yesterday we had our very first press in the Westword - an excellent Denver newspaper!

The people that have opened their hearts to us, giving their skills, their time, and their money astound me. The buzz that this has already generated, and the amazing creative impetus that is swirling all around us amaze me. I am so grateful, so thankful - and so certain that this project is exactly the right thing at the right time. I hope you will all join us on this journey to create the art that we want to see -

And hey - at the end of the day - as if all of this isn't enough - I'm going to Ireland to put on a play that I directed!

...speaking of directing, on another note - I'm also directing a short piece for the TCG conference in two weeks! ACK! I thought moving to Denver was about getting to finally be with my beloved...who knew that it would turn out to be the city of my dreams!

Strange Phenomenon

I am almost 6 feet tall, weigh around 160ish pounds, I've got big, crazy, curly hair and I've been known to be pretty loud - and strangely, I've found that in Colorado, I'm kind of invisible. Weird. This has never happened to me before.

Last weekend though I went to my friend Kate's birthday where I ran into a girl that I've met FOUR INDIVIDUAL times. Every time we've met, I've introduced myself to her, reminded her of the last time we met - and we've even taken a 5 hour acting workshop together, AND sat next to her during lunch and chatted. We have mutual friends, we're part of a small community - and YET - she continues to look at me as though she's never seen me before.

That's not the only instance. I find myself constantly reminding people of the last time we met. In fact, on Wednesday, I ran into a woman who remembered me first (embarassingly...although, at least I DID REMEMBER HER) and I wanted to kiss her on the face.

It's a strange thing - I know that I'm not quite the same boisterous, in your face girl that I used to be. I'm much calmer, perhaps even more diminutive these days. And the truth is, I'm dating an amazing man who is sort of a giant among the people he knows - he's kind and fun, well liked and respected...and perhaps I pale a little bit next to him, for the time being, my being new and all...

What's even weirder is the sheer number of strangers who feel like it's appropriate to tell me that I'd better be good enough for him...that they had hoped to be his girlfriend...and the like. Weird, right? Is it just me? Or is just not the South anymore?

Just a little ranting, please excuse me - it's just that these are the kind of behaviours that it's not exactly polite for me to call out - I could say something like, "WHAT THE F*** DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME? ARE YOU STUPID?" or "EXCUSE ME??!! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO TELL ME WHAT KIND OF GIRLFRIEND TO BE? IS THAT ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS?" But I don't...I'm a good Southern girl - so I'll vent it here...for the entire world to read. My grandmother would be so proud!

Happy Holiday weekend!

Collateral Damage

The truth will set you...

Free? Really? Or scared? Or lost...currently, the truth has set me lost. The search for truth. The desire for honesty. What is truth really? Isn't it *true* that each person's truth, by nature of our humanity, is going to differ? Then how does one discern when one is being lied to?
Why are we so afraid of being lied to? Because then we won't KNOW?! HA! Whoever gets to know anything absolutely. And how much duality is their to truth?

I remember having a conversation with Kelly and Seth on my mamma's front porch back in high school, we didn't fall asleep for one minute that night - just sat in the hammock, smoking our cloves and discussing TRUTH...and all things related.

Now here I am - 11 or so years later, and I'm no closer to understanding than I was that night. Sheesh - what a waste, I should have gotten some sleep! :) At least I quit smoking cloves. :)

I feel all discombobulated. I don't know what to think, or how to feel. I don't know how to stand on solid ground - how to not feel like every moment might bring some devastating new truth that will send me toppling down. I don't like this feeling, I'm very uncomfortable.

But I have the nagging sensation, somewhere deep down inside me - that MY TRUTH is the one that matters - the one that's going to lead me to that terra firma.

Still, I can't help but wonder - what is it that we're hiding from? Why do we hide from each other? If I know who I am, and I like who I am - and I feel or do something - what kind of sense does it make that I wouldn't be comfortable saying that I did it...I felt it?

Are we really just all hiding from ourselves? Is the rest of it collateral damage?

Hanging on by the toenails.

I love my life. Everyday is a glorious surprise so full of delightful people and events...children who say beautiful things, new jobs, new experiences, finally the rich deep sun...I love my life.

But isn't it funny how somedays loving is such a given. You can't help but break into a giddy smile as you approach the airport...going just right AT the speed limit...there's no point in getting a ticket and further delaying your reunion...

And somedays it feels like every bone and muscle in you has given up on loving...is incapable. Just the basic exercise of remembering to smile at strangers, and keep that lilt in your voice while you talk to patrons - sending out all the love that you have into the universe, hoping against hope that by sending it out there, you might feel a little of it returned to you - refilling your coffers.

My coffers need refilling today. Bad.

Wishing I'd paid more attention in college...

This weekend, my beloved is in STL, visiting his darling daughter - and staying (also meeting) my soul sister and best college bud. What a wonderful opportunity for these amazing people to meet and get to know one another without all the pressure of "meeting the boyfriend/best friend" Especially after 2 years of buildup. They're hitting it off marvelously! In fact, she told me today that she even forgot he was my boyfriend and was just thinking how great it is to have this new friend and be hanging out with him. I couldn't have asked for more :) And yet...it's never easy for me to be told that I'd been forgotten. Is is so hard for me to remember myself? Ridiculous, isn't it?

I spent the day taking an inspiring and intoxicating workshop with members of the SITI company. Suzuki kicked my ass when I was 20... 8 years later, it hadn't gotten any kinder. But I understood the Viewpoints today - and it informed some work. I felt what was going on and saw the benefit of this work - and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT. I wish I could go back to undergrad - where the SITI company and Anne Bogart herself came into my classroom to teach us workshops - where the company performed on our stage, where I had access to professors and artists whose JOB it was to tell me what they knew.

At the time, I didn't understand it. My heart, my body, and my mind weren't open to it. I was so afraid of not being good, or failing, or probably, working too hard - I wasted college. (Don't tell my dad!) I'd like to go back and do it over again, I'd pay more attention - I'd read all the plays I was supposed to (and save myself playing catch up with the cannon), I'd listen to every word that every professor said instead of crawling back up inside my shell and crying, "she just doesn't like me!" and I'd really learn.

Funny to me - I'm such an academic in some many ways. School is (more or less) easy for me. With the exception of chemistry, it always has been. I can write a paper quickly. I can discuss a book or a play or a theory. I was good at school.

But it took a really long time (and it was well after my matriculation) that I finally grasped what it was to learn.

WOW.

I need a drink.

Or a Xanex...or something to still my world...

It's all so wonderful - the BEST things have been happening lately and I can't even stand it, it's all so heady and amazing. This blog is going to hardly be my literary best, but if I don't get some of these things out I just might burst.

So let's see...as you've heard - I'm wildly in love with the greatest man I've ever known. My best girl rocks and has some awesome news! :) I get to see 5 plays in one week. They are:
Gee's Bend - saw it, review to come soon
Frog & Toad - saw it, review to come soon
Dinner with Friends
Oleanna
The Merry Wives of Windsor
THEN...in the coming weeks we've also go tickets to Harvey...and we're going to see The Birthday Party...and Doubt. It's a good time for theatre.

So that's all great - but old news, right? Then, on top of that - I start teaching again tomorrow and I can't wait to be back with the little ones. I've added two new classes this session, so things promise to be challenging and exhilarating...

I've actually started making friends in Denver. ...and not just the kind where they're really B's friends, but it works out well that we all enjoy each others company either... some friends to have coffee or a drink with. Some friends to talk girl talk with.

TONIGHT - at midnight, I'm going to lose my Goonies virginity and see it on a big screen with a whole bunch of people who think it's cool to go see the Goonies at midnight on a Friday night. My kind of people indeed!

B. gave me roller skates for my birthday and they're AWESOME. I'm going skating soon - and I can't wait. I don't remember the last time I roller skated, but it was surely too long ago.

"SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, TOAD!"

AND...the biggest and the most exciting news of all...we bought our tickets to Ireland today! B's performing in THE ZOO STORY in a tiny coastal town of Ireland with some other lovely Denver friends - and as of today, come hell or high water - we're going. Tickets are bought. We're going to Ireland in August! AWESOME.

In not so awesome news...my Uncle Danny suffered a pretty bad fall and is, as we say in MS, "tore up." They expect him to be unable to move really for about 10 weeks or so...so keep him, A.C. and the kiddos in your thoughts and prayers. They're pretty tough, and we're all so lucky that it wasn't worse - but they could certainly use some grace right about now.

Thanks for paying attention...play reviews and possibly some book reviews coming soon. Look out!

I think I'm gonna like it here...

So my life is so full of networking right now - which is great, don't get me wrong! And Denver is a place teeming with brilliant, talented, passionate artists who I'm enjoying more and more everyday. The problem I'm having is, the more I network, the more amazing people I meet...who I have no time to actually hang out with and get to know, because I'm too busy networking! HA! It's not such a bad problem really - great people, great minds, great parties, great plays...life is sort of extraordinary!

When I got to Denver, I think I was already planning my escape route - Grad School in 2009, MFA here I come...but the longer I spend here, the less I'm ready to leave again in a year. I've spent most of my 20's leaving places just as I get to know them, and I have a feeling about Denver, I have a feeling that there's a lot I can do here.

Which leads me to the play update for April. What a lot of theatre there is to see!!!
Tonight - Gee's Bend at the Denver Center. And at the Denver Center, in the next 2 weeks, we'll also be checking out Doubt and The Merry Wives of Windsor. The only production I've heard anything about is Merry Wives and that was "Fun Play!' so I'm anxious to see what all there is to see there! I like going to shows at the Denver Center - rarely am I stunned and blown away by their productions, but it's guaranteed to be strong and well produced and certainly worth seeing! PLUS, since we both teach there - tickets are free! YAY! What's better than that?
On Friday at noon, Frog and Toad at Arvada Center. I saw this at the Goodman while I was in Chicago and it was arguably the best children's theatre I've ever seen, so I'm psyched for this!Then, on Monday - Oleanna at the Avenue Theatre with new friend Elgin in it - great reviews from the post and I've loved everything I've seen her in (which admittedly is all children's theatre, so this should be quite a departure!). Then, I've got to find a date to see The Birthday Party at Germinal and Dinner with Friends at Vintage...

THEN...there's an awesome SITI company workshop on 4/20 which I cannot wait for! It's 6 hours of Suzuki and Viewpoints work which promises to wear me out and do some soul and creative rejuvenation that I am in desparate need of! AND...I'm directing one of the Curious New Voices science plays...it's a brilliant little script about government birth control called The 10 Billionth Baby and I'm thrilled for that. It's going to perform at an eco conference in Fort Collins. I'm all over the place :)

Seriously though - life is great. I have a feeling 28 is going to be the best year yet, hands down! B. and I are going with 3 other friends to Ireland to produce The Zoo Story at an outdoor ampitheatre in August...AWESOME!

Speaking of B., I think I may not have really dedicated enough space on this blog to discuss how deeply I am in love with him, and thoroughly amazing it is to get to live with your best friend - to share successes and excitement as well as disappointments and sadness. To get to play together all the time - I have never laughed so much in my life as I have these past almost 9 months...to count on one another when we need help, and to bring joy to one another in all those little ways that you can do in a day - and to realize that while I have only been lucky enough to know this incredible man for just over 2 years...i have never in my life been known and loved by another person in this way...and I can't wait to experience all the rest of my life with him.

I am indeed, a lucky ducky. And I have ALOT to do in the next 48 hours...2 lesson plans, play research...LIFE IS GOOD!

correction...

she follows her PATH...not her bath...

hmmm. I think a trip to LUSH is in order!

If you're lucky

This is a blog in tribute to my best girl -Princess Aly of the Princess and the Rockstar fame. I wrote that sentence, and, as it turns out - I'm not even sure how to adequately pay tribute to this woman. She's been my ally (HA!...that's sort of a play on words...HA!), my partner in crime, my conscious, my psychiatric care, and above all - unfailingly - my friend for over half my life. She's gotten me into trouble (okay, a little) - and gotten me OUT of trouble more times than I can count. She never tells me what I want to hear, and yet, somehow, she always says the right thing. Whether catching up over a couple of lattes or watching the sun disappear while we sip wine and laugh - there are very few things in the world that can touch the times that we've shared!

she's an amazing woman. She cares about the world and her community, she remains vigilantly aware and conscious, she's working in the hardest field that I can imagine, and she does it with hope and joy. She loves people, and animals. She's gone through a lot of pain and disenchantment - and she's prevailed, becoming more and more her true self every day that I've known her! She volunteers. And when a really stupid college boyfriend laughed at her ambition to run a marathon - she ran five! And the very best part...the part that I like best :) and what I can't believe most days - is that this singularly remarkable woman really likes me - sometimes even admires me, and that we've had this friendship - despite stupid partners, trying careers, moments where we've lost sight...for so long and through so much.

A few years ago - we'd had a couple of years where we weren't so close. Life happened, you know. But we were both deeply in need...and we caught up with each other on a hill in California...burst simultaneously into tears, and walked quickly and with determination to the bar. That evening will always define our friendship to me. And I hold it close in my heart. I think, in many ways - that's the day that I became a woman, and left my adolescent days behind.

I can't tell you really what the point of this blog is - why it was necessary to get these thoughts out there. Except that I'm just happy. I'm happy that life brought us both to Colorado - I'm happy that I am blessed enough to have a lady like this is in my life - a friend - and to see such a shining example of a woman who truly follows her bath with her eyes wide open. She is in the midst of a wonderful existence, and all the truly beautiful things that she has always deserved are happening - and my wish for her is that they continue everyday. However...for those days when it might not be so blissful - I'll be hanging around with a class or red :)

Congratulations Princess, and thank you.

Tell you what I want, what I really really want...

yep - I just quoted the spice girls. This is a proud moment.

Here's what I'd like. To come across something, that wasn't meant for me, that said something sweet and wonderful about me. I know, I know, that's just looking for validation, and that's stupid. I'm valid. It would just be nice, that's all.

I'm feeling really stupid and vulnerable and lost today. Good for noone. that's me!

My art is love!

So - theatre reviews forthcoming...I promise...but FIRST! You have to check out this website - kArtacrossamerica.com. It's amazing. New friend Jeremy is heading this project - he and a partner plan to golf cart across America (48 states!) talking to people about art - the trailer they've put together is really amazing, and I think this is a phenomenal project. Also, B. is in the trailer - actually, B. is all over the trailer - and he's really thoughtful and beautiful. He is art, and beauty... At any rate, go to the website - watch the trailer, a couple of times :), donate to the project, figure out how you can get them coming through YOUR town...for example - they HAVE to go to Vicksburg and the Attic Gallery and Highway 61. Folks there have some ART in their souls...but then, don't we all? What is YOUR art? I think my art is love. I think that's what I'm here for - to love well, to love thoroughly, to create through love, to speak through love - My art is love!

Alright - now down to some other people's art. First of all. The Lieutenant of Inishmore at Curious Theatre. TERRIFIC SHOW! Wildly and raucously funny - Martin McDonagh has really a comic brilliance, and I know it sounds a bit provinical and unworldly of me, but seriously, I think everything must just be funnier with an Irish accent :) The graphic violence and fight choreography/stunts are beautifully executed - and by the time things really start to get out of hand you've already signed on for the ride. You're in this world, and you find yourself laughing uproariously to excessive murder and mayhem. It's a little shocking...but then, that's the point. By the end of the show - having exhausted your belly muscles from laughing, you're left to ponder for a moment - why does it seem so much more heinous to kill the cat? And of course it does. Laura Jo Trexler as the tomboy love interest was my "person to watch" in this cast. A really lovely performance. Honest, simple, and at times both vulnerable and treacherous. Go see this show immediately.

The Gin Game. I'll be honest, I didn't want to go see this show. I was tired, I saw it years ago in Vicksburg - it just didn't get me excited on that particular evening - but man oh man, boy oh boy, was I glad I did. This show was what (almost...I'll get to that in a minute) perfect theatre is supposed to be. Both of the performances were beautiful. Simple, true, so deeply nuanced - and so moving. Jim Hunt is my new favorite artist. His direction of Contrived Ending (which we saw last week, see review below) was all of those things as well, and his performance of Weller was flawlessly blustery and heartbreaking while Patty Figel (?) was everything that Fonzia would be, is, should be... This was my first Paragon production to see and I plan to see everything that they do. Really lovely work. The only disappointment was in the lighting design - which was fine. It didn't compete with the story, it was fine. However, within this particular world, I think there were so many opportunities for time of day to really set the story for us, and that just wasn't taken advantage of. An incredibly minor complaint, only worth noting because everything else in the production was so full of artistry.

There is really good theatre in this town, and it's such a joy to get to take part in it. I can't wait to be making some of it too!

Have an EXTRAORDINARY St. Patrick's day weekend - and hey, take in a show, why don't 'cha!

Upcoming...

Two new theatre reviews - coming up any day now. I saw Lieutenant of Inishmore TWICE last week - it is a wild and raucously good time...but I promise a more thorough review - with - The Gin Game, which we're going to see tonight. All this theatre, it's good living, that's for sure :)

In other news - things are going pretty spectacularly well. Spring is REALLY JUST AROUND THE CORNER...and I can't wait. I think that Colorado in the spring is going to be more beautiful than I can even comprehend. I can't wait to spend some quality time outside, in this air - in these mountains! In fact, I'm so inspired by the upcoming beauty - that B. and I have decided to have our very first party at our house - to celebrate my birthday. A birthday party! I haven't hosted a birthday party for myself in so long... all this rapture and excitement, I can hardly stand to be as happy as I really am. I keep checking in with myself and saying, "really? are you this happy?" The resounding answer is YES!

Even last night - I was all crampy and grumpy and unhappy (despite starting the day off with two whole hours of Aly and breakfast time!!!...but that was 8 hours previous...) and I got home and was actually able to just relax and let go. Didn't do much - laid around, watched a movie (Moliere...it was pretty good) B and I each made our own dinners to satisfy our cravings, and then read for a couple of hours. It was so good just to feel good in your own skin, your own house, your own life.

This blog seems a little disjointed and uninteresting...but I'm writing it while making calls at work...perhaps I should give a little more attention...next time dear friends, next time.

What a day for a daydream!

Well...3 plays down, one more (Lieutenant of Inishmore tonight) to go. Last night it was Contrived Ending by Josh Hartwell and wow - what a treat! I had no idea what to expect really and I was so pleasantly impressed in every direction. The script itself was witty, clever, smart, and thoughtful - if perhaps a little outdated. Actually though, I didn't so much mind that I'd seen the angst ridden 20 something coming of age stories before - I was thoroughly engaged, even when the laughs stopped. The casting was superb. Each actor brought an honesty and comfort with his/her roles that was refreshing and truly delightful to watch. And every character was so fully developed, you really felt something pulling at you hard, for each of them. Something familiar, sometimes uncomfortably so. This cast truly defined the term ensemble, they were as at home with one another and their space as one would expect the characters to be. Individually every one of them broke your heart. The direction by Jim Hunt was breathtakingly simple and truly lovely. It is rare that a director can make things look almost as though they weren't involved, so perfectly told is the story, so devoid of gimmick or style. It was acheived in this production. In fact, every aspect of this night and this theatre worked in tandem with the telling of this story. The technical elements were clear and made the world of the play very so very familiar to us...I was thrilled to enjoy a night of theatre so much -

Good Art, Good Art!

I'm halfway through my week of 4 plays! Perhaps I should wait until I've seen the other two before writing a little review, but I'm just excited - so perhaps I'll revist them all together in one fell blog swoop...or not... you could always cut and paste and PRETEND that it was all one blog...this one, and the one yet to come...if you're following...

I'm feeling a little stream-of-consciousness today. One thought just follows another with no apparent thread to tie them all together. I'm very tired, and started the day off a little weepy (thanks to B. for being sweet and calm and quiet and settleing my restless mind) at the prospect of yet another day at work. But things just keep getting better and better from there. It's been a fairly lovely day all in all. Well, if the truth be told - it's a pretty miraculous day really, and it's absolutely imperative that I continue to remember that, and stop taking these moments, these days, this glorious existence for granted. I am wildly in love with life - and remembering to lift up a thank you everyday. Thank you.

See...I meant to talk about art...stream-of-consciousness...see what I mean? At any rate, I'm overjoyed to be seeing 4 plays this week. 4 plays, two nights of playing video games, cooking, and chilling with my beloved, and so far two nights of enjoying a little revelry with good theatre friends. Sounds like a banner week to me! Of course, with all this going on - plus a 46 hour work week, it's no wonder I woke up a little weepy :) Wow...I digress AGAIN. ART. I'm talking about ART!

The plays:
The Shape of Things by Neil Labute (starring beloved)
Sleeping Beauty (beloved's in this one too!)
Contrived Ending by Josh Hartwell (a new play by a new friend)
The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh (new show opening at Curious this week)

So far I've seen The Shape of Things and Sleeping Beauty. Two down, two to go. So...let's talk theatre. I enjoyed both shows thoroughly. Can I just take a minute to talk specifically about B? I am so impressed with both pieces of work. Seeing him do such completely disparate pieces - one is Labute, the other children's theatre...and what a tremendous range he has. Then, noteing the really complex and nuanced work that he does in both - it's just a pleasure to watch him. There is consistently something new to see, he engages you fully in whatever character he's playing, takes you on the ride with him - and he is oh so truthful. I am proud to stand by his side, and mostly, I'm just so happy to get to see good art being made!
THE SHAPE OF THINGS...I have a little trouble with this show. Largely, I'm sure because it's on my list of shows that I REALLY want to direct. I'm pretty possesive about Labute as it is, and I have very particular ideas about this piece myself. Overall, a very decent production - such an intrigueing concept, it's really wild, and really smart! It sort of gets your head all tied up in knots in places. My primary concerns with this production were really mostly centered around technical elements, I felt like there were a lot of elements not really serving the story, and in fact sometimes getting in the actors way. Kudos to the company for producing such a difficult and ultimately really thoughtful play! And B. - WOW - what a tender and provoking journey you take us on. Go see this show. Support art, it's important.
SLEEPING BEAUTY - this production was what I love about children's theatre. It's smart, it doesn't talk down to anyone, it's full of magic - I loved it, hands down! The set is amazing, and if you spent countless childhood hours in magical fairy worlds of your own imagination as I did, it is such a delight to see those worlds come to life. All of the actors were pretty terrifically stellar! I was particularly enchanted with the fairy sequence when Prince Owain and Gryff (the half dragon, half man) are lured into fairy land and tempted to forego their quest and remain there forever. The dancing and singing, the sounds - the energy in this scene was so lyrical. Then, alternately - the chilling Spider King scene was so effective. The juxtaposition of good witch and bad witch carried off with such finesse, and again, lyricism. I can't say enough good things about this production - you should just go see it. Immediately. Walk, don't run.

So...didn't know that I was a theatre critic, huh?

At any rate, if you're still reading - thanks for reading. I'll be back with you soon with a few thoughts on Contrived Ending and Lt. of Inishmore! YAY!

From 0 to B**** in under 60 seconds.

Amazing to me sometimes how quickly things can spiral totally out of control when I'm involved. On the outside I'm a predominately sane, competent person - but on the inside I'm this shrieking, wailing shrew.

Have you ever had those days? Where everything's going along beautifully, you're enjoying the company, the music, laughter...and then suddenly, without really being completely certain of how you got there, your stomach feels like it's leapt up into your throat, your heart is going to burst out of your chest, and the thoughts inside your head are doing laps so fast to make an Olympic runner blink? It sounds pretty melodramatic to me, and I'm tired of it. I want a little rest from my head.

Today is discouraging. Final performances for the classes that I've been teaching - it seemed a little to me like I failed the kids. They are terrific, and so cute and tremendously funny at every moment - but I think I was a pretty shoddy teacher. I feel bad for them. And I feel "found out"...as in, I've been pretending to be this grown up who can get things done and be depended on - who's sometimes even fairly respected - but now it's all out in the open, I'm discovered.

I think I'd really like to go back to bed - wake up when it's tomorrow and no longer today.