Snowflakes and Chaos

What is the real possibility for no two snowflakes being identical? Living in Barrie would suggest that even chaos would give up and repeat itself once in a while. It would be the search for the two identical snowflakes which would prove useless.

Not bothering with photographs today - there is as much snow in the air as on the ground. We have an icerink for a driveway at the Beach House, and the broken door (baby inside, mother outside, kicked in, still not repaired, not my responsibility) was blown open last night, allowing a small snow drift to accumulate in the kitchen. I don't know how long the door was open, but the furnace was certainly running for some time. And we've been told the previous propane fill up cost $1300.00! We're not paying for that, especially considering the amount of insulation in the Beach House.

Opening tonight - home Sunday.
Love to all.

Freezing Rain and First Preview

Woke up to a reasonable snowfall, followed by freezing rain, and now, just rain. Blegh. Had a seriously pissed-off moment in the parking lot at Walmart, of course, when a woman decided it wasenough to scrape her front and rear windows, but didn't bother to scrape the side one. Think maybe you might need to see out those windows, you idiot? Or that the side windows couldn't be nearly as bad as the front? Moron. After having cleaned my windows thoroughly FOUR times today, so that I didn't kill someone. Let it go, let it go, breathe, breathe, in with the good, out with the bad.

We've just hit intermission for "All You Ever Wanted To Know About Bad Theatre" here in Barrie - it is a show, despite the material we were handed at the beginning. Now it remains to be seen if the audience appreciates any of the humour contained within, which there is. Perhaps a bit vague at times, definitely some clown, but comedy none the less.

Been a bit grey and somber today - both climactically and emotionally. Just getting through to opening this show, and working on the next. I'm really excited to be working with Cathy Elliott on her new show Moving Day. 1969, first man on the moon, mother alone in an empty house surrounded by packed belongings, waiting for the moving men.

Still re-examining self, still enjoying the gym (a slightly dirty old man was hitting on me, very obviously, in the sauna tonight), enjoyed a brief listen to the CBC (Ma Brown, I thought of you, as a woman yodelling Mozart came on this afternoon - of course it was on Jurgen Gothe's programme!) and finished a show.

Spending a day in St. Jacobs to watch Dial M this Saturday. A little break before the next show.

And congrats to Jeffrey Buttle, winning the bronze for Canada tonight - he's a member of GoodLife here in Barrie, so we're close, doncha know.

Goodnight

What can I say . . .

Night of the full moon, working alone in the theatre tonight, getting stuff done so I can have a partial day off tomorrow, and enjoy some time in Toronto.
We're all tired, which is effecting our sense of the production, but I'm still having trouble taking much out of this show - the theatre is a job, like any other. I count myself lucky to be doing something I love, rather than doing a job I hate because I have to. So, continuing to create and move through the less-than-fantastic show, looking forward to the next one.
But continuing to do my best, give my all, as I always do. Every production deserves that attention, whether it be for children (when it should be even better) or adults, or re-examining a classic.
To everyone who works because they have to, who provide an essential service for all of us, thank you. I'm pretty sure the things I do provide you with an kind of essential service: filling the soul, encouraging laughter, eliciting tears.
Entertaining & enlightening.

We still have our Christmas Tree

Not really, but that's how it looks, as you walk out the front door of the "beach house". This snow-covered tree presents itself to you, all perfect and real.

My favourite part is posted below.



This is why we put icicles on Christmas Trees! I don't think I've seen this before, but I think it's great. These pics are all from this morning, a beautiful, crisp, sunny morning.

Real ICICLES on a TREE. Cool.

Waking up on beautiful mornings

The state the current show is in, as of late last night. I'm reserving judgement.



I worked late last night, until around 1 a.m. Went home to bed. Had to be up this morning for costume fittings, and wanted to be in around 9 a.m. so I set my alarm for 8:15 a.m. I seldomly get up with my alarm, but roll around, putting off the inevitable.

I woke up this morning around 7:45, gently, feeling good, happily in love with my partner (who is in St. Jacobs, see Actor in Exile) and enjoying the warmth of bed. And it was beautiful outside, sunlight streaming across untouched snow (blinding me for the rest of the day). Even the slow leak in my driver's front tire didn't bother me.

Gorgeous day!

Dial 'M' for Murder Opening Night

PRB (Actor in Exile) has opening night tonight in St. Jacobs.
Merde to Patrick!
XXOO

Atlas I am not.

As I was eating lunch today, listening to the CBC as I usually do, the hourly newscast came on, discussing the recent comics which were published, insulting members of the Muslim faith. Since I am a sensitive person, and particularly sensitive right now, I was upset over how easily we make and keep grudges, seeing people as the enemy, hating over the centuries. Religious organizations and faiths of the world encourage their "flock" or "following" to be considerate of everyone, including those who may not agree with particular doctrines or teachings. At what point will we recognize our basic needs are identical, and working toward supporting everyone's needs will satisfy ALL our needs. I know I can't take on such a large problem, but trying to give just a little to everyone can help. Large shoulders, sure. Atlas I am not.

Starting to meditate, trying to focus my mind and clear out the negative, un-necessary thoughts which interfere in daily life, and sometimes become overwhelming. Having just come through a reasonably stressful period (August to December), I'm finding my body is having a hard time coming down from the adrenaline, and sorting out when the time for ME is. I've been enjoying the gym, but a little, judgemental voice breaks in (I have, however, found myself feel good enough about my body to do another nude photo shoot with PRB. I'll post the decent ones soon). Who's voice is that? I've worked hard enough to get where I am, I certainly don't need to berate myself for taking time to NOT work, and simply enjoy something for myself. And I'd rather help my body carry me until I'm 90, rather than impede it by becoming sedentary and loaf-shaped.

Also trying to commit to a book which encourages you to accept yourself as you are, that we are perfect, complete and beautiful right now. There are definitely challenges in that, too. Most men would find it difficult to be honest about ANYTHING they feel. I find I feel too much, too often. Not that it's a bad thing. Letting go of 30-year-old processes is difficult enough. Little steps.

Be here now, in this moment. Don't worry about the things you can't change, or the things that haven't happened, or other people judging. None of that is you. You are you, and you are beautiful.

Our new blanket

I was certainly expecting snow, living here in Barrie, and knew to expect it - but this is incredible! I very briefly felt like a kid in school, knowing I would play for hours outside because the schools would be closed. And for those of you curently in warmer climes, panicking over a mere one inch of snow, that is a picnic table on the deck. And that is the full foot of snow on top of the picnic table.


Tonight it is clear and cold - one of those nights when the snow sounds like it is breaking under your boot, crystals of ice shimmering in the air.



One of the "roadways" on the property near the theatre.



Behind the shrub which is covered in snow is the window to the office I share with our Production Manager, Michelle. With the snow this heavy on the shrub, we no longer have a view of the parking lot (thankfully) - still plenty of light though.



Not too much else to say. Kind of uninspired with the current show.
Goodnight.

The Return of Winter

Took Sunday at home this week, since it was Patrick's last day off until March 6th, and I wanted to enjoy our house a little. Driving home Saturday night, through the slush and rain, I figured the storm was done by Sunday. As I drove back to Barrie, just north of Toronto, a major snow-squall, white-out conditions, snow-covered roads situation. A little crazy. Just a little.

The February 1st Update

This has been a long time coming. I've been promising photos from shows since October, and I'm finally getting around to it. I don't have pics of everything here, but most of the shows since last March are here. I'm not going to retell any stories. And they're out of order.

Vagina Monologues - March 2005 - Avalon Ballrom, Fallsview Casino for Women's Place St. Catharines



Moliere - April 2005 - Talk is Free Theatre, Barrie





The beginning of the floor for the upcoming show All you ever wanted to know about bad theatre - TiFT - Sunday, January 29, around 2 p.m.



Amahl and the Night Visitors - December 2005 - Evergreen Singers at Grace United Church - there's an organ under the fireplace.



Home for Christmas - November 2005 - Leslie Arden, Cathy Elliott, Glynis Ranney - TiFT
I never got any "in-show" pics for this show - the tree eventually went black.





Salt Water Moon - August 2005 - Theatre in Port



Playground - January 2006 - TiFT
This was the world premier of this show - we just closed it Saturday night - by midnight the stage was grey, prepping for the next.



The Glass Menagerie - October 2005 - TiFT

The new house

Finally, I am able to bring you some shots of the house - which has a continuing investigation of how Frank Lloyd Wright or his firm was associated with the construction. Due to the in-exhaustible efforts of Patrick, I returned for a week home in January to curtains and paintings hung, kitchen organized and office prepared for my continuing organization. We even spent some time rearranging furniture.
We're both in love with the house - enjoying the beautiful light streaming in from skylights in the mornings, the peace of the surrounding orchards AND being able to function in the kitchen while Patrick sleeps without trying to muffle the sound of the coffee grinder. Note to mention the return of Patrick's piano, a gorgeous instrument, with as gorgeous a voice and player. I'll have to get used to finding Patrick to talk to him, since we can no longer hear from room to room.

The zen lounge, a mostly useless space at the top of the stairs - nobody can stand up beyond the blue candle holder.



The well-equipped kitchen - office through beaded curtain, another door to basement, another to the rest of the house.



Patrick's piano at the front of the dining/music room.



The view from the front entrance - we've already moved that painting.

Rainbow Trout Experiment & More on BodyWorlds

I've been trying to eat more fish - Omega 3 oils, protein, generally just good for you. But until recently, I haven't been much of a "raw fish" purchaser - mostly breaded (or sushi, but someone else would be preparing it). I bought a large fillet of rainbow trout on Sunday, along with some anchovies and rosemary, and hadn't gotten around to cooking it until yesterday. I knew the rosemary would end up being quite strong compared to the fish, but nothing prepared me for the flavour the anchovies ended up giving the fish! I'm cooking everything on an electric grill (no stove up here in Barrie) so I put the rosemary under the fish, and the anchovies on top, and closed the lid. Well, not necessarily something I'll do again, but not a complete failure. My previous trout-on-the-grill-with-butter was better.

We've just started rehearsals for "all you ever wanted to know about bad theatre", an umbrella title for two Chekhov pieces (Drama & The Evils of Tobacco) and Daniel McIvor's This is a Play. Sasha Lukac is directing (Moliere last year) and we've decided to put all three together into one show, where we slip from one into another.
Sasha, calling me in his bellowing voice, asks me about the BodyWorlds exhibit and what I thought (see below). He's said he felt dirty coming out of the exhibit, which shocked me, since I think of Sasha as a liberal-minded, forward-thinking individual. I never felt as though the display was ART, but simply a scientific exposition. I suddenly felt as though I should not have been there, as though I contibuted to the display. I prefer to think back to the first autopsies, and how doctors were considered butchers. Well, entitlement to opinion.