Packing It Away

I am   FINALLY   packing away my Christmas stuff.

I thought it would have made me sad, but it mostly hasn't.

I've enjoyed looking at each of my treasures-- this year's new ones, previous years' discoveries.

I have great satisfaction in reorganizing some of my storage boxes.  And in deciding that other boxes have achieved "just right."

Looking at my kids' ornaments-- the ones they've made and the ones with their photos-- has made me a bit wistful.  They seem to grow up SO fast.

Ok, maybe I'm also wishing that I'd hung more ornaments or used more holiday serving-pieces or made more cookies & candy (or tried my hand at fruitcake.)

Maybe.

But, as I mentioned in my last post, I'm already looking ahead.  Today, I renewed my Keepsake Ornaments Club membership (and ordered replacement Crown Reward cards.)  I'm "following" Keepsake Ornaments on Facebook.  I've seen that there will be an Artists' Signing at one on my franchise's stores just before my birthday--- can you say "day-trip" ??!?

My church's rummage sale is coming up, and I always find goodies.

My craft room is (once again) shaping up, so I can tackle some projects that have been patiently waiting.

So, bring on birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter & such!

I shall celebrate!

May the Circle

Yesterday I actually took down Christmas decorations.

Note: I typed "took down."  I merely moved them to a staging area.
Nothing has been put away yet.

So, what to my wondering eyes did appear in my mailbox yesterday?

SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!


MY KOC RENEWAL PACKET!!!!!!!


SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!


So, there is #2 in the Mini-ornament series "A World Within" I began last year.  There's a mini hummingbird, (and I know people who adore hummingbirds.)  And the little house is too, too sweet!

Ooooo!!!! And another Mini series!!!! Penguins!!!!!!

For my renewal, I'm choosing the "Christmas Window 2016" because I have a little ballerina who will be tickled pink with the "Dance Shop!"

I'm also choosing "Inside Story;" it complements the KOC membership ornament I got last year.  They say that this one is the "1st of 3."  Two more this year?  One each the next two years?  We'll see!

The "For Keeps" issue previewed many other KOC "exclusive" ornaments.

Maybe I will, maybe I won't.

But I know I'm getting Christmas 2016 off to a charming start!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Line Runner

We had a great first weekend of "Superior Donuts"!  Our crowds had a bunch of energy, and our characters just came alive.  Things clicked.

So far, I've only heard of one, maybe, person being shocked at the "language."  Despite all the "mature audiences" warnings, and the word "pussy" written in big red letters at center stage, some people just don't pay attention.

But everyone else has.  They laughed at everything they should have, even getting some humor that escaped me earlier.  The crowds have been kind, congratulating us.  (People who know Russian have been impressed with Carl's accent and characterization of Max, the immigrant DVD entrepreneur.)

A delightful review came from Huntsville Theatre Reviews.  Robert Montgomery wrapped up his review of "Superior Donuts" with these words: "These are real people, with real lives-- real loves and loss, real dreams and history-- and it well deserved its opening night standing ovation."  Thank you so, so much for supporting us, Mr. Montgomery!

So many folks I know posted wonderful things on Facebook about the show!  Even my friend Anne, up in Chicago, is impressed we're doing this play.  Living in a ("better") Uptown neighborhood, she enjoyed reading Tracy Letts' play.  Too bad copyright laws prevent us from taping it.  Of all the plays I've done, I'd like most for her to see this one.

For a cast with varied roles/types and stage time, we are pretty chill together.  Being all in one dressing room helps.  We didn't plan on being in one dressing room, but with the VBC staff repairing a water leak in the women's dressing room, us gals (all 2 of us) had the options of "the green room," "the men's dressing room," or putting up with smell of epoxy and copious cement dust.  The men's dressing room is warmer and less public than the green room.  If you're wondering, we have very few costume changes, and all of us are "veterans" of community theater and know how to be respectful of others changing.  We talk smack about other things like football, drinking habits and jobs.  I think the only change is that the guys aren't using the urinals.  Then again, maybe they're shy pee-ers and don't use them around each other.  I wouldn't know.

Oh, and our cast motto is "Embrace the Pussy."
Yep.  We've made many jokes....

Now, it's the Wednesday before we start our second weekend.  We are sitting around the stage and doing a line run-thru.  We could have done a walk-thru, where we say the lines and move through our blocking, but no costumes and props/tech.  We're not doing a speed-thru, either, but we are popping out our lines at a quick, natural clip.  Thank God no one is pulling a green-dragon.  Unless everyone agrees beforehand, (and you're mentally prepared,) a green-dragon can turn into a real ego-fest.  For a show with a six-week rehearsal and that only runs two weekends, we don't need a green-dragon to "perk" us up.  We find plenty of things in the show to riff on while we're off stage.

If you're local and read this, come see this play.  We perform Thursday/Friday/Saturday (Jan. 21, 22, 23) at 7pm and a Saturday matinee at 2pm.  Ticket info at Theatre Huntsville.

Jeff White took some fabulous photos of the cast & show, that I'll post later.  But here is a scene from the fight.

Yeah, this show has everything.  It has heart.