Jury Duty again today. This time for District Court, which is different from Federal Court. I have to be there at 8am today. Gross.

I am NOT psyched about this. at all. However, I’m not nearly as nervous as I was first time. I know the general area where I’m going. The weather is supposed to be better, in the 60’s this week, so I won’t be trudging downtown in the snow and ick.

I’m taking my book, which is almost finished, and another to read, as well as some magazines.

Wonderboy is making his way towards Oklahoma today. Spring Break, dontcha know. We think perhaps some roller skating is in our future.

HEALTHCARE REFORM PASSED!!!!!

What an epic thing to see. . . to be a part of. It’s amazing how much resistance there is to monumental change in this country. But there was a day without social security, a day without medicare, a day without all of the things that people count on. This change? Well. It’s been a long time coming. As one of the million uninsured persons in this country I am extremely excited and proud of what happened yesterday. Only time will tell…but it’s about time right? yes.

Turkey Black Bean Chili.

yum.

Pirate Radio. Sex and the City. Pacific.

watched.

two hour nap.

slept.

kitchen.

cleaned.

blizzard is half way over, with the second half dumping another several inches…”they” say.

I’m contemplating getting out of the house and watching some march madness at the bar. my friends are up there.

Contemplating.

I would love facetime with the girls as I’ve been absent most of this year…but I can’t seem to pry myself off the couch. It’s snowing outside. I’m full of chili. It’s gonna be a longshot that I leave the house.

I find myself with an unexpected three day weekend.

We’re in the beginnings of the throes of our springtime blizzard. Yes. Blizzard. 4 to 9 inches expected with crazy winds and drifts. GROSS. the high today is 31. Tomorrow is 35. Yesterday? yesterday it was 70.  That bigass storm that dumped gobs of snow in the Rockys has made it our way and brought crazy winds with it too…Yesterday I went to look at my book and get a handle on who would call in and cancel…lo and behold everyone already had. EVERY. ONE. No one is going to call in spur of the moment on a day like today for a hair-do, so…here I am. Bartending tonight is thus far still on. However, I feel like I probably wont make the 45 mile trek and just let the local gals handle this one. I’ll pick up my fair share this season, so I refuse to panic about the money I am not making today.

Which brings me to my point…and I do have one.

While I’m actively NOT panicking about the money I’m not making today…What shall I do? It’s nice, actually to get a real weekend. Monday will be spent in jury duty, so two days off to laze and relax and do chores is a blessing. Most of my chores, hoewever, are done. Laundry is caught up save one or two loads. I could go through the mail that has piled up and get that organized. Perhaps I will tackle the filing that needs be done in the office. Perhaps a few piddly things around the house. I am going to make some black bean turkey chili. I dunno how. I’ll make the recipe up as I go along…more on that later.

Maybe I’ll write some. Read some…I’m half way through the fifth Outlander book. Ahhhh Jamie Frasier.

It’s a strange feeling…not rushing to work. not rushing to rehearsal or a performance. not feeling like “i need to go and get that done.”  I’m going to sip my fabulous cup of coffee and be still for awhile and contemplate my day.

I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Oh Friday, once again. First full week with the time change. I usually don’t have problems with this change, but I find myself struggling to get to bed before 11, and not having any desire to get out of bed. Ever. Perhaps it’ll get better this weekend. I’ll nap less and get back on a good night schedule.

It’s a touch of depression…which is usual for me when I finish a magical show. This core group of people that I’ve been thrown together with and spend every single night for 6 weeks, then every weekend with for a month..POOF! Gone. And that is a struggle. It’s life, and it’s definitely a road that I’ve been down before. We choose who we keep and who we don’t and it all shakes out in the end. . . we find our place in each others lives.

It’s also  been tough reacclimating myself into a social circle. It feels as if it’s closed off to me, and I’m having difficulty finding my place back in it. Perhaps I don’t need to be back in it? Perhaps I am really missing it.  I am focused on saving money, working on my home, and working the second job so I can honestly see that I’m the one that has moved away from it…I dont have sufficient words to explain it here. We’ll let it mull a bit longer…Either way…it’ll shake out in the end.

Speaking of the second gig, the wedding bartending, I got my schedule yesterday. WOOOO HOOOO!!!! I’m on deck this Saturday, then off for two weeks for Easter and a trip to Arkansas, then the rest of April, then every weekend in May! I’m squirreling this away, and paying bills with it too. I want to find my place in my finances…really get a grip on my spending and saving and paying off stuff…It’s going to be a great wedding season!!!

Speaking of season…it’s 70’s in the forecast today. Tomorrow? haaaaa haaaa haaaaa haaaa HAAAAA!!!. Well. Let me just show you. “they” are saying it’s comparable to the Christmas Eve Blizzard. I’ll be working in El Reno Saturday night…sigh. I’m sad for that bride. Seriously. I hope they go to a warm place for a honeymoon.

Tonight, Chris and Cindy are coming over and we’re making sweet potato black bean chili and cornbread! MMMMMM!!! Perhaps a movie as well. I love me a low key Friday!

Hope yours is smooth and easy, and that you are finding your place today.

Who knows what I’ll decide on…but after conversations with LT and Hawk yesterday, I feel positive that this project will be fun and something that will not only create a safe haven for me, but for my loved ones as well…

Here’s to possibility…

It’s the boy’s birthday and while we’re all out gulping down the green beer, he’s seeking quality time with his kiddo…so in place of a gathering or brew ha ha we’ll just have a lil party here!

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE

We got our first bounty from the organic co-op today!

When I got there, there was a box of bruised and somewhat sad looking bananas that she said were delivered because they weren’t sellable. I took a bunch and came home and made banana nut bread for us. Chris and Cindy got here, and we took photos and decided what we would eat. I had picked up a reatroaf while on the south side today, so we threw that in the oven, then Cindy slurried up some sweet potatos, leeks, garlic, and chopped up the swiss chard and made that into sauteed goodness. I made Dion’s Salad with the romaine lettuce. Romaine, red onion, strawberries, feta cheese, sliced almonds and we had berry balsamic dressing on it. I also picked up some honey/wheat/olive oil bread from a local baker. It was an amazing meal.

We split up the food, and mulled over the stuff that we got…so inexpensive…a great deal, I think.

I love that we’re trying this. I love that we’re taking the time to share meals, and talk about the food and really appreciate each other in the process. It’s nice…

on a bum note? My coffee pot has hit a snag. I own a Cuisenart Grind and Brew. I bought it five years ago with one of my first paychecks. The grinder, apparently, has given up the ghost. Everything else is working just fine…so I need to go find a coffee grinder. That’s ok. I still like the thermal carafe, everything else is just fantastic…alas..we are just a Cuisenart & Brew nowadays.

I did get an estimate on the backyard. I feel good about it. I think I’ll get a few more to compare but things are looking good! I also am now on the hunt for someone to install a small amount of guttering in the front so that we can begin planting and landscaping with that…

I’m waiting on my sheets to dry. My dryer…well I think I need to unclog it someway. It’s not drying well. Takes a couple of cycles to get things completely dry…but that’s a task for another day.

Hope your Monday was as good as mine…

(free range kitty)

My first weekend “free” from the theatre. Usually I’m walking into walls and asking for directions…while in my house. But I seem to be doing ok reacclimating myself to reality. Yesterday was some late sleeping, some civilized outings to the theatre and a late lunch/early dinner then home to rest on the couch and watch the new mini-series that is sure to become my latest obsession…all the while thinking of the things I wanted to get done today.

****UPDATE TO LIST. APPARENTLY I DID GET A BUNCH OF STUFF DONE TODAY!***

Laundry, specifically my sheets that have muddy cat prints on the bottom of them.
a few bits at the grocery store
a massage
buy my car tag
run the Dyson and dust, general picking up of the week’s bits and pieces lying around.
go by Lowes and check into getting some guttering put up on the front of the house.
landscaping books/idea books
talk to the landscaper about the backyard
drive to Tuttle to get our first delivery from the Organic Food Co-Op

Now. This doesn’t seem like too much to get finished today. Really. But for the fact that I didn’t get any sleep until I caved and took one PM pill at 2am…slept till about 10:30. Now gulping coffee, I’m starting to wake up and get a little motivated but lookie here! it’s 11:30! The morning is gone! gah. So…as is par for the course, I’ve set myself up to fail at getting anything done. I’m already thinking…meh. I can do this and that tomorrow, only really need to get this and that today…heh heh heh.

oh well. It’s my day off, and I’m going to do as much as I can without making myself nutso. I DID just talk to the landscaper. I’m getting a project manager out here today to give me a bid on leveling off the war zone in the back. Did I tell you about this guy? Ok. See…it helps to know a million people! (I’m pretty sure I know a million people but that’s a whole other post) A friend of mine who lives in Tulsa works for a big nursery/landscape place. He and I thought about flirting and perhaps more sometime last year…or was it the year before last? I cant remember. Anyways, that was a no way jose, we are just friends. He’s got about thirty kids and a wicked divorce, and I want no part of that drama. It didn’t stop me from calling him up and asking for a name of a good landscaper here in OKC area, which he provided, called in a favor and voila! I’m getting bids today! I may even use the guy to draw up a design for the front…then I can just make it myself! who knows. I told him my shoestring budget will be the deciding factor and he seemed to say, we’ll work with that don’t worry…that must be the favor. SOOOO….check that off my list as DONE today. I’m interested to see how much it’ll cost.

Ok. Ok. Just writing this has put a fire in my spirit. I’m up. Chris and Cindy are coming over tonight to divide the bounty and have a meal out of what we get…I’m going to spruce up the house and really? I may call and book a massage. I got a stipend from the theatre for doing the show that will just cover a massage…man. I really need one, too!

BIG BIG BIG love and support going out to PseudoSis 1 today. She’s starting a new work gig. It’s a temp thing but we’re excited about getting started. So…GOOD DAY TO YOU!!!

Happy Monday, ya’ll!

What an amazing night! We had a fabulous audience for our last show…the show itself was fun and fast and just right. Friends and family were in the audience and everyone seemed to really respond to the story…so good. Strike was pretty easy. Mostly just putting up props and costumes and set dressings…we went out for food and drinks afterwards and just sat at the table and said grand things about the experience. There are shows and casts that sometimes come into your life and leave a footprint. They mark you and change a bit of you forever.

this show is one of those…I will miss it terribly.

Lucky for me, LIFE goes on and usually at a break neck speed! Today is more theatre with PseudoSis 1 then perhaps a meal and drinks after. We’re seeing the latest installment in the Greater Tuna series…Tuna Does Vegas! You’ll remember I worked with/for Joe Sears back in the day. So I’m excited for that. Tonight the new series on HBO begins, The Pacific. Produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Speilberg and looks at the theatre in the Pacific during WWII. Band of Brothers is to this day, one of my favorites so I’m excited about that.

Today is a big big day in the lives of to of my favorites. Chris and Cindy are celebrating their 12th Wedding Anniversary today. WHEEEEE!!!! Twelve years. The only thing I’ve kept around for twelve years is a shirt from the Gap that I wore in college…certainly not a man. These two are just fantastic. I’m not saying they are perfect or that their relationship is without any kind of dark days but let me just say…I’ve never seen a couple more complimentary of each other. They fit. They work. To be around them, one never ever questions that they would still be married 12 years later. I love them. I love being around them. They are family to me.

Raise your coffee cup in their general direction this morning…CHEERS!

As we come to the end of our run of Love Song, I’ve been asked over and over if I’m sad. . . do I get sad when a show closes?

Anyone who knows me knows that I hate goodbyes. I’ve cried at any sort of ending all of my life. But time, and age and dare I say maturity, err wisdom, the lyrics to a Semisonic song has taught me that every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end. That without the closing of this beautiful experience, we will never get to our next beautiful experience.

This has been a beautiful experience. I was sooooo stressed about the lines. (seriously. all that is SCRIPTED!) And I was worried about the meshing of the personalities. (lotta personality in this little cast) and my lesson that I shall take from this ride is to really Really REALLY try not to worry. I know we’ve got a “good little show” I hear it in the audience every night. I feel it in my heart…and to be a part of bringing this story of love–familial love, batshitcrazy love, old love, shiny new love, awkward and unconditional love–to be able to bring this story alive…well. I am Grateful with a capital G.

I had a client in my chair yesterday who just found out that she will be losing her 82 year old mother to cancer. An old high school friend just lost his father two days ago. Christy just lost her mom a mere few months ago. My sweet sweet Darci, and Delbert are experiencing the anniversaries of the death of a parent…I spoke the words with Delbert, I spoke them here in fact, that we are all too young to be burying parents. And yesterday, I thought…well. We are ALL too young to bury a parent. And my client and I cried as she said to me what an honor it was to be with her mother through this last part of her journey. And we cried as she listed off the struggles she’s personally overcome in her life to say that THIS is the hardest thing she has ever done. And we cried when we felt a peace come over us and knew that some strength was around the corner…And we cried when she hugged me goodbye and told me how grateful she was to be able to come get her hair cut.

I am grateful. My heart is full. For my blessings. For my family. For my journey. This itty bit is coming to a close tomorrow and I heartily encourage you to come see a performance if you haven’t yet. If you have, I heartily thank you. I am grateful for the next adventure…be it putting guttering on my house, or The Great Backyard Overhaul, or our first delivery from the organic food co-op…who knows what’s around the corner!

let’s go find out, shall we?