Tech Week: Aesop's Foibles

A short update and a haiku.

When time is quite full--

And  between the songs and cues

You still get it right.

This Week:
      *Reading: about halfway through Alysa of the Fields (Tina Field Howe). Having become  absorbed into this story, I have not started Meet the Austins (Madeleine L'Engle). This is my second read and getting a good parallel past historical events such as when Spanish, French, and English came to America and viewed the Native Peoples. Or even now when we interact with people from the Middle East, or those who are Muslim. It a way a good lesson to remember that people are people. Sometimes we just need to be open minded and listen.
       *Social Media: I did get to visit 4 blogs on Sunday, which was the only day that I had time. It happens.
       *Theatre Stuffs: Aesop's Foibles goes up Friday. It's been a long week, but the kids have buckled down and we have a show. If you on around you should come and see the show. Some of these kids are new to theatre, others have done a few shows already, but they all have fun, cute little parts.

It's been a quiet week, Dear Readers. The overly hot days have been replaced with a blast of crisp chill. If the weather gods are fair the will return the weather to the 70's for the rest of the week, as promised. I have Zombie Prom rehearsal tonight, meaning I get to rest from Aesop. It's not really a rest when you think about it.

Somewhere I will have some more time, Dear Readers to get to my To Do List. Right now I am having my morning coffee and reading (and writing this post). After such a whirlwind month in April, May is feeling quiet (well, not counting the theatre stuff happening). I wonder if it will ever end. I doubt it, I love being busy. Yet, I am looking forward to the time of June through August, when I do not have commitments and more time to write without passing out (like I did last night).

I am not trying to justify anything. I know what I choose to do and not do, but as my Dear Readers, and my peers with ROW80, NaPoWriMo, #WriteStuff, The Musketeers, etc. I want Alls Y'all to know that I am committed to writing. Growing older does mean growing wiser. And becoming wiser means that you have to take a look and see how you can actually make your goals that you set. Also, it is one day at a time.

That is enough ranting, Dear Readers. I have the M'Rauda Threat in Alysa, work to accomplish, Zombie Prom songs to finish learning, and too much other stuff. Also, I would rather not worry if possible.

And, here's an image for you, I sing Zombie Prom songs in my car driving to and from rehearsals in Odessa, and to and from Watkins, Corning, and Horseheads. Imagine me singing That's the Beat for Me or Enrico Fermi High, or Come and Join Us, driving down the highway? Pretty funny, right?

Remember, A Round of Words in 80 Days is a challenge that knows you have a life. Here is the Blog Hop, stop on in and see what we are all up to. We'd love to see you!

Warm and Wistful Sunday

Today is a good day to be lazy!

For being in the upper eighties the last couple of day I did get quite a bit done around the house and enjoyed
the hard theatrical work of some friends and associates (which in this case are the same thing. Now it is 4 in the afternoon and the laundry is done, 95% of the dishes, and the trash is taken out.

Planted some flowers for David's and my mum, passed away April 2009 and October 2008, receptively. Not a day passes that I don't think about the things that my mum has missed, but I am sure as shit she would be proud of me. So, I planted a little memory garden in the flowers boxes attached to the mail box.









Memory Garden Mail Box




This Week:
     *Reading: started reading Alysa of the Fields (Tina Field Howe)
     *Theatre Stuffs: rehearsed Friday night for Zombie Prom. I have the 2 big numbers that I am in memorized. Have gotten the opening song now memorized (except when I move set pieces), but need to work on making it seamless when I sing it. There are at least 5 more songs that I need to completely learn (I seem to have chunks of these songs memorized, just not the whole song yet. Also, there's the choreography to learn. This week is Aesop's Foibles tech week/show weekend. Oh, and I forgot I saw Dream Barn's production of Little Mermaid Junior and March Hare Production's inaugural production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Very much a theatre weekend.
     *Housework: See above which included getting the flowers planted and finished the said 5% of the dishes still to be washed.

This Week: (I am going to be focusing most of my energies on Aesop, but more of ROW80 goals will be tackled as well. I'm still in small goals month.)
      *Reading: Make progress on Alysa of the Fields and start Meet the Austins (Madeleine L'Engle)
      *Writing: write something. Maybe in a bit I will write something.
      *Social Media: visit 4 blog daily this week.
      *Submissions: submit to at least two this week.

Been listening to a bunch of new music that I have recently discovered: Richard Shindell and The Kennedys. Enjoying walking on my mowed lawn in bare feet, birdsong and breezes, and somewhere in between skirts feeling good to wear. Hope you are having a wonder May 10th (or whatever day you read this), Dear Readers.

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a blog challenge that knows you have a life. It is Blog Hop, so come a visit with a few or all of us. We are a patient lot! :-) Happy Sunday, Folks!!

Look an UPDATE!

So, I really need to get back into the swing of ROW80, as Round 2 is NOT writing itself, is it? A day behind again, not surprised. But I do have something to report. See, between the 2 theatrical shows I am working on, the Evil Day Job, and my various writing, reading, or general housekeeping projects I am flooded with stuff and things. Even though I am rather busy most days, I am still finding a little time for me. See, when I don't give me just a little me time, I think I get just a little cranky.

Me time is the time that I can solely focus on me. For instance, this week I have managed to sneak in about an hour of reading each morning. A cup of coffee and one of any three books that I am reading or contemplating reading either in my study in my reading corner with the window open or, now that the weather is warming up, on the porch. And the week before I am sure I had a least two days where I got to read, maybe three (cannot rightly remember at the moment). There is nothing more peaceful than reading a book in the early hours of the morning. When the birds have just start singing and the world is still half asleep. Not only do I get more books read, but I think it helps me to center when I read in the morning. It is almost like a form of meditation.

Anywhooo...

ROW80 check-in time, it's still a little on the light side, but am feeling the productivity levels beginning to go up.

This Week:
          *Reading: finished Murder in the Mews (Agatha Christie) and  Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir (Jenny Lawson). Lawson is a fun writer and the book was an engaging read. I didn't know what to expect at first, but I found myself sympathizing with her on several levels and know others who have had to deal with some struggles similar to her. Also known as The Bloggess, Jenny blogs about a wide and eclectic things and you should totally check her site out. It's good karma, Bitches!! :-)
     *Submissions: 1 submission to a local poetry contest called "Poetry Posts", a program to select local poets and display their work around local parks and one cemetery in Elmira (and other surrounding areas?) during the spring and summer. Made in part by grants through the Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes. Here's hoping!! Also, I have at least two (no, three) more contests/journals I am planning on submitting something to by June. More to come.

     *Theatre Stuffs: Aesop's Foibles is coming along, props are gotten, costumes almost done, working the scenes that still need work (that was tonight). Tech week begins Monday. sjow is May 15th and 16th. Hang onto your hats, Folks! Also, Zombie Prom is coming along wonderfully. I have my two big numbers memorized, just need to work on them at home to perfect the choreography and work on memorizing the choral numbers (with choreography). So yeah...lots of stuff coming up.
     *Writing: wrote one new poem that I submitted to the contest above.
     *Housework: let's say that the house does NOT look like that much of a disaster area, much!
 
This Coming Week:
    *Reading: Start reading Meet the Austins (Madeleine L'Engle) and Alysa of the Fields (Tina Field Howe).
    *Writing: work on spending some time writing daily or at least more regularly sitting down to write.
    *Submissions: see above.
    *Theatre Stuff: Tech Week!! Just survive it. :-) And I am only stage managing this one (Aesop's Foibles). If you are local, you should come to Odessa-Montour's Fetter-Brown auditorium and see The Lake Country Players Junior Players production of  Aesop's Foibles, directed by my friend Holly.

A Round of Words in 80 Day, the blog challenge that knows you have a life. Come and visit the Blog Hop and see what us writer type are up to.

How are your goals coming, Dear Readers? What is upcoming nfor the month of May in your corners of the world and internet?

May Goals

Missed Wednesday's check-in. Drat! It's been a busy few weeks and going to get worst  as the month progresses. Not surprising. On the plus side I completed NaPoWriMo and Blogging A to Z.  w00t! I didn't flinch or waver as much as I thought, but then again I have a great support system with Jesi, Rod, and Lizzi. They wouldn't let me fall and kept me going, usually with their awesome twitter banter and words of encouragement.

Not going to mince words, I knew this past month was going to be tight. May is also looking packed, but I still know what I want to get out of this month. With the April challenges done, I can focus on some of my other goals. Going to outline the goals for May, and even make the weekly check-ins this time.

May is bringing warmer weather and the Lake Country Players (LCP)'s junior players production of Aesop's Foibles (May 15th 16th), which I am stage managing. That goes up in 2 weeks. Keuka Lake Players (KLP) is putting on Zombie Prom (if your curious as to what it is about, the link is to the Facebook page, with pictures and whatnot) at the end of May (May 29th and 30th), I am in the chorus, with 4 different characters. And, yes I know what you are thinking, Dear Readers. I am crazy! This I know and I welcome it. It id kinda what theatre folk do. The good side to this is that June 1 begins a 3 month hiatus from theatre to re-group and rejuvenate mind and body. Well, that and write, edit, and write some more.

Goals for May:
   *Reading: complete 4 books. I only finished 2 in April. Currently reading Murder in the Mews (Agatha Christie) and Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) (Jenny Lawson - The Bloggess).
   *Submissions: I want to submit 1 new submission per week. I have two/three submissions that are due in June. I was doing really well on this in 2014, back backslid when I got to the holidays. Jumping back on this wagon.
   *Writing: write daily (or when possible) at least 200 words.
   *Theatre Stuffs: Aesop's Foibles and Zombie Prom regular update with ROW80 check-ins (see also Blogging)
   *Blogging: 1 new post (non-ROW80).
   *Social Media/Visiting: visit 3 - 4 blog daily.

Still keeping it simple, but I have some other goals that if these are met I will work on. Today was a grand day with the sunshine and temperatures in the 70/80s. This needs to be a regular thing now. I get a lot more accomplished when its warmer and can be outside. The house is too stale. Need to open up the house more and air everything out, spring cleaning, planting, etc.

What have you all been up to, Dear Readers? What is your favourite part of spring and the return of the warmer weather?

A Round of Words in 80 Days is a challenge that knows you have a life. It is a Blog Hop. Come over and visit, leave a comment, and meet some new friends and colleagues.