Tech... Tech... Tech...

The last few days at The Barn are getting progressively better.  Yesterday we ran almost the whole show with light cues and some sound.  It's going to be great when it's finished. We just gotta finish it.

This show is another example of why I need to make the effort to get things done ahead of time.  I'm cramming now to get thing accomplished.  It sucks not having much help.  However it will all get done.

Yesterday started out rough.  I'd decided the day before that I was only going to work half a day so I could get some quality alone time in the theater.  Ran by R&R to pick up gel and a motor for the mirror ball.  Mr. Blondie had a migraine the night before and was still feeling the affects.  So after I left R&R I went to his office to switch cars.  His a/c doesn't work. 

I get to The Barn and discover I have everything except the gel.  I'd left that in the trunk.  This is now the second time I've gone out of my way to get gel, just to find I'd left it somewhere.  Demmit. 

When I checked in with the front desk at The Barn, I'm chatting a little with the gal at the desk.  Ticket sales are looking good.  She says it looks like we'll have a nice group for Thursday.  Um, Thursday?  Apparently we're having a preview audience.  Really?  Am I that asleep at the switch that I missed this memo?  I realize it's not supposed to be a perfect show - it's our final dress.  However, that changes the urgency of getting things accomplished.  To us it basically feels like we lost a day. 

So I've managed to keep my cool and not completely freak when I start wrapping up the conversation to head upstairs.  She asks me how things are coming - slow, but we're getting there.  Help should start trickling in over the next hour so we should be able to get a lot done.  She stops mid breath to look at the calendar.  There is a class scheduled from 330p - 5p in the theater.  WHAT?!?  Now I'm really panicking, and still trying not to shoot the messenger.   I tell her that it was our understanding that we would have the space to ourselves this entire week, anytime.  She looks at one calendar - nothing on it but us.  Then another calendar shows the class.  She says she'll move the class to a different area of The Barn.  I tell her that I'm happy (I use that word loosely) to call off the troops - the last thing I need is the theater manager ripping into me about bumping another group.  She assured me that it wouldn't be a problem and he wouldn't give me trouble.

Background: I told the theater manager two months ago that we always seem to have conflicting reports regarding when we have the space and when we don't.  I mentioned that there was more than one calendar, and he berated me for even suggesting it.  Well, here's a perfect example of what I'm talking about.  I'm trying not to sound upset or shoot the messenger, but at the same time give me a break.  At this point I know more about how that facility is run than he does, and it's his full time job. Ugh.

The run went well.  Some of the cues looked horrendous, but some were completely fantastic.  I still have a ton of work to do, so I'm going to the theater right after work.  In the meantime, I've got my eyes closed as I type.  I'm hurting...

Sometimes I'm Too Much Of A Softie

The last few days have not been as horrible as I thought they would be.  I was able to get naps in every day, and most of the time I remembered to eat.  Yesterdays goals were not accomplished well at all.  I called R&R around 11a to place my gel orders for SSS and RMT.  They close at 530p, and since I leave work at 4p, I shouldn't have any trouble getting there before they close.

I left work right on time.  It's 14 miles from my office, to R&R. Taking the beltway is the quickest way, and I avoid the traffic lights, so that's how I went.  It took me an hour and twenty minutes to get from my office, to the exit I needed.  KILL ME NOW.  Yes, it was nice outside and I had the top down.  That was a definite bonus.  But my left knee is PISSED off.  I didn't get out of first gear until I was a mile from the exit I needed.  INSANE.  There was a tractor trailer behind me, and the sound of his engine drowned out any hope of listening to music unless I put the top up, which I wasn't willing to do.
 
As soon as I exited the beltway, I called R&R.  The guy was kind enough to wait for me - thank you!!   I take my gel, and go get food.  Ihop.  It ain't classy, but it's cheap, yummy, and since I didn't get a nap it was a nice break.

Once at the theater I started cutting gel.  The lights are all rough focused - all I needed to do was switch out the gel and write basic cues.  I was almost done cutting the first color when a very nice gentleman who was probably in his mid to late 80's arrived.  He'd been helping earlier in the day with a set for either the same show I was working on, or the one acts... not sure which.  Anyway, he'd lost his date book.  This date book is his life.  I appreciate this, as my Crackberry has attempted data suicide a number of times.

I stopped what I was doing and helped him look for it.  As we are looking, he mentions that he has an appointment to take his cat to the vet the next day and isn't sure of the time.  Since the phone number to the place is also in this book, it really needed to be found.  The whole time we were looking we were swapping kitty baby stories.  After about a half hour of searching, we finally found it.  He was thrilled, and I could get back to work.

He sat down and we kept talking while I finished cutting gel.  (I only tried to take my fingertip off once, and I didn't even draw blood.  WAHOO!)  Then I grabbed the rolling step ladder stool thing and started swapping gel.  He sat there and we talked the entire time.  I'm almost done with all the gel when he gets into this really deep story about a cat he had a long time ago.  I'm looking at the clock - it's 9p.  I've got to get these cues written, and the only way to do that is to desert this guy for the booth.

Next thing I know, he's getting physically upset about this previous cat and the fact that his current cat now is older and is going in for a large number of tests to make sure she's okay.  He tells me how he's on a fixed income (which I figured...) and how he made an arrangement with the bank that if he gets over-drawn they'll give him a cushion.  The approximate costs of these tests were upwards of $500.  He was going to spend the money to make sure his baby was okay, no question there... but it was going to take him a while to get caught up with the bank.

By now he's in tears.  Um yeah, that's great - I have cues to write...  No, I can't just walk away.  So I keep talking to him trying to calm him down.  After he's gone thru half a roll of paper towels, he decides that it's late and he should get going.  He bids his farewell, and mentions he'll be back the next morning to help again.

I feel so bad for this guy, but at the same time I'm relieved.  I can get some work done!  Then my phone beeps.  It's 1030p.  I have gotten almost nothing accomplished, and if I don't go home now, there's no way I'll be getting up for work the next morning.  CRAP!

I'm not supposed to be back to SSS for another week and a half, since I have the RMT show opening in a week.  I told the director & producer I'd have rough cues done.  I don't have JACK done.  So tonight I head to RMT to get as much work done as possible.  Depending upon what my schedule is like for Sat and Sun, I may be able to squeeze some SSS time in.  I'm praying now that I can get a very good handle on the RMT show tonight, have a super smooth Q2Q on Sunday eve, and spend some time Monday eve at SSS.  If all else fails, I'll open RMT's show next Friday and spend Saturday during the day at SSS - which I was hoping to avoid.  Only time will tell.

Some days I wish I could say no.  Some days I wish I could just walk away in the middle of a non-evil conversation.  Other days I'm glad to be busy and happy that I have a heart.  Now if I can just keep it all going...

I've Officially Lost It

So yeah... I'm helping out this other group.  The next three weeks I will be in some theater every day.  I'm only on day 3, and I'm already wiped out.  It doesn't help that I started off poorly - Monday night at the Designers Meeting I probably drank a pitcher of iced tea, then when I got home I took my morning meds instead of my evening meds.  Between the caffeine in the tea and the stimulants in my morning meds, I didn't sleep well.  Yesterday I ran errands at lunch, was at the theater in the evening...  Never did get my nap, and I didn't really eat.  Breakfast: Hot choco.  Lunch: Banana.  Dinner: McD's #2 w/Coke.  Before bed: a scoop of Brownie Batter ice cream.  Yeah, that's healthy... I am so wiped out right now, and it's only 815a.  I've had a headache for the last two days, so this morning we're starting off with an Excedrin breakfast.  Wahoo!

All that aside, the shows are going to be great.  I'm going to survive the next three weeks without breaking a car, losing my day job, or severely destroying my health, demmit!  I miss Mr. Blondie and the kitty babies greatly, but I'll make it up to them.

Wanna see some good community theater?  Drop me a line.  I'll hook you up.  :-)

It's Good To Feel Needed

Well, my year didn't exactly start out as planned.
January was to be quiet.
February - A few rehearsals, a few meetings, lots of planning and drawing.
March - Design & run a 4 week show.
April - Design & run a 4 week show.
May - Design & run a 2 week show.
Between the closing of one show and the opening of the next I have anywhere from 4 to 7 days.  By May 16, I'd be done and ready to enjoy the next few months of peace.

Obviously, things didn't exactly go that way.
January - filled with doctor's appointments.  Physical Therapy, Orthopedic Surgeon, Gastroenterologists, blood work, x-rays, blood work, CT scans, colonoscopy, blood work.  Every other day I was at a hospital or doctor's office.
February  - mixture of the same medical issues, with a handful of production meetings, planning, and another stint in the hospital due to the failed attempt at sleep driving on the highway in rush hour traffic.  This caused me to drop the March show.  I'm still pissed about that.
March - more doctor visits and blood work, but not as frequent.  The last two weeks in March have become filled with production meetings and rehearsals.  I'm back on my schedule and Lord willing, will complete it without further interruption.

Today I receive an email from a director who is working with the group I was supposed to be lighting right now.  His show goes up mid April.  Needs an LD.  Hmm... With the guilt I feel for having to drop the last one, I'd really like to help.  However, I have three days available next week, and three days available between when my April show opens and when he has his first audience.  That's not much time.  However...  If the lights remain in the ceiling from the show I didn't do, it'll take no time to re-aim a couple specials and write cues.  Provided of course the new show's set isn't too much different. 

In the middle of looking at my calendar to determine if it was really worth it to try and help this guy out, my brain just stopped.  WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU THINKING?  I know...  I've been very sick, I totaled my car, I barely have the energy to walk up the steps to my apartment.  I have to hang and focus the April show myself, and his show may require the same.  I haven't been awake for more than 9 hours without a 2 hour nap since November.  Did I reply back to Mr. Director with the few dates I had open?  Yup. There's no better time than now to get myself back into shape!

Right?

(chirp...  chirp...)
 

Riiiiiigghhht....  Lunatic.  But I'm a happy lunatic.

I Don't Care Who You Are...

That right there is funny!

WARNING: Please Return Census

I received my census form a couple weeks ago.  I dutifully completed as much as I felt necessary.  The next day, I dropped it back in the mail.  Done. 

I've since received TWO post cards in the mail reminding me to send in the census I sent in two weeks ago.  Thank you for wasting more money on paper and postage.

I have much better ways of wasting my tax dollars.  Ben & Jerry's ice cream is a GREAT way to waste my tax dollars.  Plus it keeps me more sane.  Sounds like a win-win to me.

WARNING: Census is Coming

How incredibly stupid is it that I received a letter telling me that I'll receive the 2010 Census next week?  Just send the damn thing.  I'm not an environmentalist wacko, but I also don't like to waste.  Thanks for keeping the Post Office open, but really? I can find a much better use for those trees you used to make the paper I recycled.  Like using it to smack the person who decided that was a good idea upside the head.  Oh wait, this is a Gov't thing, isn't it?  'Nuf said.

Out With The Old, In With The New

I am feeling better since my car accident.  Bad news - they totaled my little Focus.  Good news, I used the money to buy a new car...











This thing is so fun to drive!  I can't wait until the weather gets warm and I can put the top down.  It's the first manual transmission car I've had in years...  Bumper to bumper traffic on 270 isn't very fun on my left knee, but I'll be happy to get used to it!

For years I have dreamed of owning a Mercedes convertible.  I finally got one!  It's not the one I would have wanted, but it's a step.  This one is a 2004 with 38K miles.  She was kept in immaculate condition.  :-)

Sleep-Driving: FAIL

Kids, don't try this at home.

On Monday, 2/22, on my way to work, I'm toodling down I-270 in DC's typical stop and go traffic.  Stop... Go... Stop... Go...  Somewhere in there I missed a Stop...

Did you see my license plate?  How does that happen?  I rear-ended an Accord.  Looking at the other person's car, you'd think I just scratched the bumper.  Did you see the HOLE in my license plate??

Ugh...  I was supposed to open a show next week.  I would have been at the theater Monday afternoon.  But no.  I fall asleep on 270 and that screws up the whole thing.  I feel so bad...  I've been working on this project for a while now, and was really looking forward to being a part of it.  Thankfully, the theater community pulled together and covered my pathetic ass.  People are doing what I typically do for other groups.  Pop in with a week to go and fix/redo it all.  I feel horrible about it.  My stage manager is ready to kick my ass for being so hard on myself.  I know I didn't do it on purpose.  But still...

I'm okay.  My ankle is not really happy.  Apparently my tendons don't appreciate me slamming the brake pedal to the floor.  Not that it did much good since everything was done by the time I hit the pedal.  I'm in a collar for the rest of the week.  I'm very sore, and headaches are constant.  Upside - my rental is a Toyota Avalon.  One of the models involved in the RECALL.  I can't imagine they'd still be loaning the vehicle if it had the acceleration issue.  I hope...  Nice car, but not for me.  Too wide.  I don't like the position of the side mirrors - hard to see well.  I thought the ride would be smoother than it is, too.  Ah well.  I don't know yet if my car is repairable.  The air bag did not go, so that's a plus.  Hopefully I'll know in the next day or so.  In the meantime, drugs and rest, heat and rest, drugs and rest, stretch and rest, drugs and rest, ice and rest, drugs and rest....

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE

Yup, we did it.  And here's proof.  What an awesome day.

Click here: Our Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics