So Much For That Whole Writing Every Day Thing

Yeah, about that....

In my defense, I have been busy. I am at the theatre close to 13 hours a day*, and trying to keep my head above water on four other shows at the same time.

Little of interest has happened really. The somewhat relaxing weekend rolled into a rather hectic week. We had a dry tech of sorts on Monday, sans actors. Tuesday night we began with the cast. A lot to do. The first scene took almost the whole evening, what with the lightning, sound, fog, lighting, costumes and makeup. Last night rolled through a little better, though we did not reach the end of act one.

Our fight choreographer arrives on Saturday, so we have to be to the fight scene by then. It is the last scene of the play, but the fight will take a great deal of time to stage.

More later I am sure.

Juneau- Day Three

I am afraid I don't have much today.

Cooked dinner for a bunch of people from the theatre last night. Pan- seared salmon in a red wine reduction sauce, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, bread, and wine. Lots and lots of wine.

Also a very relaxing evening of good people and good conversation.

Sat through a run through of the play this afternoon. Impressed.

Off for the rest of the evening and again no idea what to do.

Have not seen bears yet.

Juneau, Day Two

As a little exercise, I have decided to try and post every day while I am here in sunny* Juneau, Alaska. I am here to design Hamlet for Perseverance Theatre. Both I and E, my intrepid assistant, arrived very late Thursday night/ Friday morning.

We showed up at the theatre yesterday morning to get our bearings, see how scenery and lighting were coming along, get connected to the theatre's network, and attend a production meeting. We also met AL, the new electrics intern, who had the plot up and raring to go.

We started focus last night, and actually finished this afternoon, six hours ahead of schedule. I am as giddy as a schoolgirl, although I am not used to having free time when I am here. A Saturday night in Juneau, and no idea what to do with myself.

So far things are going well. It is a little frightening.

I will write more tomorrow. Now we are off to have dinner with A, the theatre's TD.

Peace in yer crease.

*And by sunny I mean rain drenched. The ten day forecast is for showers every day and temps in the low 50s.

For The Rain, It Raineth Everyday

For those of you monitering this for news of my health, I made it safely to Juneau. Both the flight to Seattle and the flight to Juneau were delightfully un-eventful, although I am annoyed by this whole "You can't carry a bottle of water on the plane, even if you purchased it at a kisok after going through security" thing. It seems to me the message is that they can't ensure security of the space even after you go through the screening.

And I was told today that it has been raining in Juneau for 25 days now.

S

I am in a funk.

I spent three days last week in Chicago with S, the founder of the Multi-State, Girlie-Advising Posse, and her mother (also a good friend of mine). We had a great time. Looked at some art at the Art Institute of Chicago (including my favorite painting), as well as stained glass at the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows on Navy Pier. We also ate great food and drank great wine in a number of spots, like Quartino.

So why the funk?

When we get to spend time together I am reminded how woven into the fabric of my life she actually is. I don't ever feel awkward around her. I can say what is on my mind, and we can sit around talking about just about anything for hours on end. We can also sit quietly with one another. There is no such thing as an uncomfortable silence when I am with her.

And when we have to part, it is as though I have lost my right arm. I miss her terribly.

Regrets

I make a serious effort not to have them. For a very long time I played lots of my life safely, hoping to avoid regretting things I had done. I believed I was trying to avoid hurting anyone, although perhaps I just did not want to feel bad about doing so. Either way, the regrets I ended up with were about the things I had not done, the possibilities not pursued.

After my divorce, I vowed I would never again regret the path not taken. And of course now my regrets center around the fallout of choices I have made. Friendships lost or irrevocably altered, all because I didn't just keep my mouth shut.

Are we supposed to learn something from these experiences? I feel like it is the snake eating it's own tail. The choice is don't take a risk and wonder what might have been, or leap forward and change your life for the worse.

Regret the thing you do, or regret the thing you didn't? Either way, you're fucked.

Sometimes...

...I am a huge putz.

That is all.

GRRRR!

WTF is it with theatre festivals (and some regional theatres) scheduling things at the last minute?

I got an email yesterday that informed me I had a meeting in a week and a half. In New York. Too bad I booked a trip to Chicago three weeks ago.

And yes, when I can tell you today where I will be and what I will be doing on January 25, 2007, a week and a half is indeed "the last minute."

We call them schedules for a reason, folks!

Careful What You Wish For

Remember back when I was bitching about there being no work?

Well, except for a week in October I am booked solid from the 24th of August until right before Thanksgiving.

And by booked solid I mean no days off for almost three months.

Feast or famine. Goddamn I love Show Business!