It's my party, and I'll cry if I durn well please!

I turn 35 tomorrow-I'm not pleased about that.  That is truly middle age.  That is halfway to 70, and 70 isn't too bad for an ending age.  But I feel great, and had a blast at my tea party today:)

I woke up to a sleepy husband, and very energetic boy...so far so normal

 Where my child had me blow up three balloons and started bringing all this stuff in for my birthday.  I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with an empty pizza box, but I think he was going to plan a scavenger hunt-very sweet.

 All excited, I checked the oil and water, and left only to drive into....well, this isn't going to be nice at all.

 The weather turned out OK, but I did have to pull over a few times to let the engine cool off.  (We've replaced hoses, thermostats, headgaskets...sigh)

 I did finally make it to Lulu's Tea Room.  Where everybody had the tiered tray with tea.  Those flowers are real btw.

 Here are Nelia, me, and Eve.  We had a blast, but all good things...

 And I have quite the mountain to climb, with a car that over heats...so I took the back roads instead of the interstate home.

 Over the hill...

 

And through the woods...

 To home I go!!  Where there are sprouts in my greenhouse!!!!   YAY!!!  Buttercrunch lettuce:  (there's one, look for it)

 And beets! (there's several there)  I didn't check the freezer, I wonder if my seeds sprouted there too.

 And then...I came in...to where the dog got sick...all over my black carpeted bedroom floor. (that's soda)

Sigh!  She's still not feeling well, I wonder what's wrong?  Hope it's nothing serious.

Thank you girls for a wonderful time!

When a Child is Given a Camera

It's time to start springing things.  I know, early, but it's been a very warm and wet winter.  So, it's time to get ready for spring.  I let Marcus out with the camera. 

We had to buy a greenhouse due to erosion trouble.  We had a horrible time last year, and this year has already proven wetter than last.  So, we're starting all we can inside the greenhouse so our seeds don't get washed away, crows don't eat the corn, and weeding is reduced for a while in the beginning.

We planted peas, lettuce, and beets in the greenhouse.

I also filled a freezer with dirt, and planted carrots, onion, lettuce, and beets in it. (it's there on the left)

 We prop it open with wooden wedges...

And hold the covering down with a big rock.  Now, we use a broken screen door for the top most of the time, and...a broken glass door for when it rains and we don't need the water, etc. (George inspects it daily)

We also had the lovely job of cleaning the coop.

Normally, it gets so cold, that the floor is frozen, so we just clean it out in the spring.  When it's frozen, there's very little if any smell.  However, this year, it never got cold enough, and it was so wet, that it was very smelly and messy.  Especially with ducks-ducks are NASTY.

And we spread the manure on the garden:

 It'll have time to settle in before the dirt's used.  This will be the last poop installment until fall/winter.

 Thanks babe, that's real flattering.  (btw, why would I wear a letterman's jacket?  It's wool and expendable.  I wear it to work in all the time.  Very warm!)

Meanwhile, back at HQ...
Arlis removes the bad hay off the latest roll:

   The cats stand guard.

We also insure all boys are in one pasture, and all girls in another for calving.  We bought a new heifer.  She's registered.  We can begin weeding out the grade (non-registrable) cattle.  Here is Arlis's little heifer, Hope.  She's six months old, and in a much better place than where she was (all they fed was grain.  Their cows looked very sick).

Hope is MAD!  We took her from her mother, put a halter on her, tagged her ear, and gave her a tattoo.  I'd be mad too.  Arlis continues to work with her, and now she is able to be led with the rope halter and trusts us more.

Dress

Last night was the first full dress rehearsal.  We also had a little get together.  (I have found that going back on stage is like going on a bike, at least for me.  I fall off a bike a lot.  I call snacks provided "craft services", and get confused when they say "hold" instead of cut or freeze.  Lots of little things here and there that I'm having to transition.  Allow me to also say that theatre is far, far, FAR more disciplined.)  Warning-lots of really bad puns ahead.


Before we got into the "habit" of being a nun... (Christina and Sarah)  Sarah draws all the time.  She's in AP art and does really amazing work!

 Regina is a nun with us, and these are her kids.  They are by far the best little actors on stage.  Little Sasha is the cutest, and I get to escort her in the beginning.  She is so sweet!  I love your kids Regina! (and considering how well I do NOT get on with kids-that's saying a great deal)

 Eunice and Bob-they are a real blast!  She's nuns with me and he monks around.

 Obi Wan Kenobi

 Why yes, this is a brownie.  It was made from the chocolate of Chili and the spices of Sicily with a slight dusting of powdered sugar from the sugar cane of....  (this is Steve-he plays the Captain and is really a lot of fun)

 One of the children's costumes

 Weslie-directing...while 20 nuns change clothes all at the same time in the same room with lots and lots of mirrors.  We must be Roman nuns.

 My Novices.

 Mature nuns. 

 This is under/behind the stage and what must be maneuvered through.  With over 100 cast members in this production, it can get busy.

 One thing I've noticed about this theatre is that everyone knits.  And I mean EVERYONE!!  This includes small children and...this random guy I've never seen before sitting in the green room.  Perhaps I have found a new outlet for my wool??

 Let's be serious now.

 Or not...

Allow me to inform you that panty hose, black shorts, black shirt, and the nun outfit does not allow for quick trips to the bathroom.  The nuns never have time to sin, they're always adjusting their clothing.  It was truly ridiculous.  Nuns were constantly pinning habits back on and tying dresses back up.  I might could handle the lifestyle, but I will never be a nun on the account of clothing alone!

 Hear no evil, see not evil...

 

Now, I had never seen the monks in costume before.  So when they walked across the stage during the intro, all I could think of was....

 One of the back drops.

 We had to put the chickens up early last night, but the guineas would NOT go up.  So, we tied Mya to a rope so she could wee and left her out till we got back.  This morning, I just went to open the door in my grog only to hear the guineas on the back porch...oops.  I had to tie poor little Mya up again this morning.  She's not a happy dog.

For those interested in the play, here is a little snipet for Knox's WATE 6  (the hyperlink isn't working, you'll have to cut/paste the link, sorry)


http://www.wate.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=6684436&h1=6+Around+Town%3A+January+28%2C+2012+-+5&vt1=v&at1=Station+49&d1=449867&LaunchPageAdTag=Search+Results&activePane=info&rnd=85224710

If there is a picture I took of you and it's not here and you want it, let me know. I couldn't include all of them, sorry.

The Drama behind the Drama

Remember that earlier sentence?  Here's where it comes in.  In all that time, I have never ONCE had someone on stage grab me and move me to where they wanted me, or push me aside and go around me....until now.  At this point it's laughable, so here are some examples:

We (a small click of girls that have at least minimal stage experience) are constantly avoiding arms pointed under our noses, other nuns informing us where we need to be instead of where we are, and flat out being told what to do by other cast members.  You can't talk sense into them either.

For example, scarf-headed woman yells at a little girl for cutting line at the sign in sheet.  Then she cuts line herself (she also only sings one note...in bass).  Coffee woman talks the whole time the director is giving direction while holding a huge Java-ON STAGE, and then tells others where to go and what to do by pressing said java into your back.  These instructions are more often wrong than not.  She also refuses to listen to anyone else's info, even when it's exactly what the director already said.  Viking chick randomly picks people out and tells them what she thinks they need to do, but she is easily ignored.

So far, it's been horrible, but appears to be calming down some to almost tolerable.  Coffee lady is the worst (for me) as she is one of those soccer moms that gets all up involved with things and buddies up to the coach (director).  I can only hope she's not around for future auditions/plays and that I am.  She seems to be there for her kids. However, last night, an occurrence did take place that I hope helps.  There was a very light couch on set.  Katy (the stage manager) had her hands full and needed help to carry it off stage.  So, with candle in hand, I use my other hand to pick up my end and carry it backstage.  As I walked back I heard from many nuns "Did she just carry that couch with one hand?!"

Maybe they'll leave me alone now.

I've missed the theatre

For those who knew me...years and years ago... allow me this one sentence.  Since high school I have done more indies, voice overs, promos, model work, and other "entertainment industry" work than I actually remember.  But one thing I haven't done in a very long time was stage.  So, I decided it was time again, and contacted the Cumberland County Playhouse.

I looked them up in Equity and didn't find them, so I assumed they were purely amateur.  I got a new monologue and music piece ready (wow, it has REALLY been a long time) and went for it.  I am now the wallpaper in Sound of Music.  (in other words, no one would miss me if I wasn't there) 

I am a nun (one of many, many nuns), and I shall be called...Gretal...  And I shall wear...a black habit...

I later find out through a real nice young lady that they are professional and found their rates of pay-YES-I CAN get a gig that pays around here!  I hold hopes for next year, but not really until then, but it would be SO much better than tax returns!  (The director did ask me to stick around and give them a chance as he would make it worth my while.  I didn't understand this until I found out their pay scale-nice.)

So, I'm in rehearsal, and I see people running around in sweats, scarves, gloves, character shoes, taps, tights, full makeup with wigs (promo pics) and hilarious costumes that have nothing to do with anything I know about that's going on there, and I realize just how much I missed the ordered chaos of theatre.  Absolute insanity, and yet, somehow, everyone always knows where to go when.  Amazing really. The lead (Lindy-she plays Maria) goes through a scene we're blocking and everyone (literally) has to hold back the tears b/c we're not supposed to be crying.  She's truly amazing.  The Mother Abbess (I keep thinking "abscess" whenever I see that) is an opera singer and sounds beautiful on her part.  When I wrote this, I had yet to see the work of Captain Von Trapp-Steve is his name.  I have now and he can go from evil intimidation to loving father/husband in a blink...literally...very nice.

We were then sent home and I realized just how much I envied those who got to come back tomorrow and block another scene.

AH-I have MISSED the theatre!!

Operation Dead Dog

I guess it has been a week since posting, so I should post this...

A while back, I shopped for emergency food since I'm gone so much recently for Arlis in a pinch for supper.  This included a giant bag of 30 fish sticks.  Arlis didn't see it, and it got left in the trunk of the car...for 3 days.  It wasn't cold enough outside, so they had to be thrown out.  A bad storm hit (not the one a few days ago, the one before), and a trash can fell over.  Goober got into the bag.  Mya went out that morning and came back in smelling BAD of fish.  I mean you could smell her from the other end of the room.

Here it is, our Sabbath, and Arlis goes out to clean up the mess, and I wash the dog.  Marcus knows Goober will "run away" if this turns out not to be the storm's fault. 

So, later that day, Marcus comes running to me screaming.  

......

Mya has puked up the week old fish sticks onto the bedroom carpet.

We used paper towels...

And pinesol...

And vinegar...

And baking soda...

Twice....

Sigh...It still smells.  I mean it smelled so bad your eyes would water being in the bedroom!  It was horrible!  Talk about a damper on things!  I almost passed out doing my exercises!  It's dried now, and pretty much without scent, but it's still a different color where it's dried on the fibers and I couldn't get it all off.  I've used bristly brushes and everything. 

Just when you think you can sleep in and relax! 

How I now feel about Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th had always mystified me.  I never understood the conception of it at all.  In fact, I usually had very nice days on Friday the 13th.

Until today.

First, here's the background:
I recently taken on a new job working for a tax preparing company at a kiosk in Wal-Mart.  Just a few extra bucks for a few extra jollies.  Training started in Oct the year before.  So, that means most people had 2-3 months training.  I had one week.  During that week I was required to do online training and go 50 miles out of my way for classes, both ways.  EVERY hour I wasn't out of town doing classes, I was online "learning."  It was also during this time I traveled to Knoxville to get my first root canal and spend time with a friend in need.  I was told testing would be open book.  It was not.  I traveled to Cookeville once again for final testing, only to wait over an hour b/c the instructor wasn't ready.  Two days later I went to take a final test.  Now I'm exhausted.

Now, here's my story:
I got called in early to fill in for someone with adequate training.  So, with no name badge, no uniform shirt, and no experience, I set off for Wal-Mart in the beginning of a snow storm with a packed bag just in case I can't get home.  I couldn't, but that's later.

I am alone for six hours.  I have to close everything myself and open it all back up the next morning myself.  Wal-Mart was so cold the cashiers wore coats, scarves, hats and hand warmers passed out by the manager.  I shivered a lot.  I did one tax return, and the rest of the time handed out fliers and watched people. Lots of really scary people.

"Would you like a coupon?"
3:48

Do you really think that tattoo makes you look better?
"Would you like a pen?"

3:55

Is that a lug nut sticking out of your body?
"Would you like one?"

4:15

And seriously people, there is NOTHING attractive about pajamas in public.
"Do you qualify for the EITC?"

4:12  (seriously, that happened.  I actually believe time went backwards)

The same people would pass me over and over, it was the weirdest thing.  Why would you go to Wal-Mart for hours on end and walk around it and go to the bathroom 3 times?  Weird.  The buggy guy was freaky weird and kept hanging around me and spoke in hick, so I didn't understand him much.

People began taping the fliers to their body as they passed so that I wouldn't bother them again.  I don't blame them.  I hate it when people hand stuff out, it's ridiculous, but it did generated business.

I did one tax return, one of the easiest there is.  It took...oh...15? minutes?

Sigh....


4:30

An eternity later, I closed up and went home.  Unable to access all the programs I'm supposed to b/c my name still isn't in the thingy and help desk won't help, I turn it off and head for the doors.  My car is frozen shut.  I came back in to try and recruit help, to no avail.  I bought some cokes and Granola bars for supper, b/c Hot and Ready didn't appear to be an option any longer.  I managed to open the doors only to have 1/2inch thick ice on the windshield and a wiper shaped like a banana.  I warm it up enough to drive...300 feet...and try to see again.  Nope, still iced banana.  I get on the road, a state highway, and can't see much, and realize I am NOT driving home.

We live 30 minutes from Crossville, up 127.  Now, this isn't flat country with street lights.  This is 1/2 mile high ravines with bridges, valleys, steep hills, and guard rails.  Arlis calls the neighbor sheriff who said it should be OK as he hasn't heard anything bad.  Don't care, where's the Motel 6.  I pull off at the Cracker Barrel for Arlis to find me a bed for the night.  That's when I smelled it...  the e-brake has frozen on.  Good thing I'm not going home.  Motel 6 is just across 40, so I'm fine, just another 300 feet.  I can't really find the entrance, so I guess, and wind up amongst a bunch of truckers.  I finally make it to the office, pay my day's wages to spend the night, and draft the receptionist to hold the key turned while I pull on the frozen trunk.

I was told there was Wi-Fi.  I was thrilled and got out my Kindle to watch a little Netflix.  Nope, no signal.  So, I turned on telly to see what the rest of the world was up to.  We haven't had so much as a local channel in years.  Thank God.  This stuff is horrible!  Obama's speeches cut to Lady Gaga, Madonna doesn't care that she has children, she still wants to "push the envelope", Miss America is still going apparently (I thought that died out years ago), and "Celebrities are wearing..." click.  Some group of rude people are cooking in a contest and making WAY too big a deal out of it, all the weather is Knox/Nash/nat'l and none local, and a white girl and a black girl with a giant fro are duking it out to Michael Jackson music while their clothes just happen to rip off here and there in certain places.  So...so...sad...

So, I read Enola Holmes and the Case of the Bizarre Bouquet, eat two bars, drink half a coke, and try to sleep, waking up every hour or two.  Finally, I leave to go back to another 6 hours (9-3).  By now the Wal-Mart associates are asking how I made it last night and are happy with my decision to be in a hotel, and as time goes on, it gets busier to normal flow almost, so I know it's OK to go home.

But the real adventure was actually work that day.  There's the buggy...guy?...that looks like a really ugly Jack Black.  Only, I can't tell it's gender.  The one time it went to the bathroom, I had to answer some questions for a potential client. Drat!  So then the freaky weird buggy guy comes back to talk to me again.  He says the same sentence twenty times, "You know Nashville's where we got that snow from."  Really?  I thought it was God.  I didn't know they made snow in Nashville.  (at this point I have a severe attitude problem with horrific snide remarks, but I actually managed to keep them all inside and still smile-yay for me!!)

He leaves, I answer a few more questions, and not a single...oh wait..he's going to the bathroom again...and..it's...a...BOY!!   ...ew...

Not a single tax return allowed the day to last even longer.  I get an e-mail saying I'm supposed to get paid today for those 12 hours of training in Cookeville.  I still haven't...

Sure enough, when the time comes, I can traverse without too much trouble where I buy a pizza and chow down on the way home to light and fluffy music.  I am scheduled again next week, but I will be with someone, and there should be a few returns to do. 

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH-may God have mercy on your soul!