Good Week, Productive Week

Been a pretty great weekend over all! Got to see some friends perform their little hearts out. The students of Corning Community College theatre company, "Muse Afire" did a fantastic production of Jekyll and Hyde. The young man who played Jekyll/Hyde, wow, the dedication and the work on the Confrontation number, it was pretty awesome. Everyone was amazing and I am very proud of my young friends who got to perform is such a show. Also, there was Centre Stage Community Theatre production of A Delicate Balance. While not what I was expecting-I found it a bit wordy-but the cast pulled it off. They were what made the show for me. Very proud of my friend Dale, who has grown since doing the Odd Couple, many moons ago (2009, I think). He has grown as an actor, playing Tobias I was floored by his portrayal. This is why I do and am part of community theatre. I love to get the chance to see people shine and to  help people shine.

Cheers to the casts of Jekyll and Hyde and A Delicate Balance.

Remember to my NaNoWriMo novel...

This week have found me catch up on a lot of things, and after a full weekend last weekend, I really need to.Road Trip. Here's a bit of what I wrote today. Pretty pleased with the stories progress. Was worried that I would run out of story before 50K, but still going strong, just behind. Write  1,854 words today. Road Trip is the working title, that might change.

 I have spend a better part of the day cleaning my house and writing for my NaNoWriMo novel,

“I know we are late Mar.” She was juggling her purse and a plat e of cookies. “I was trying to rush. I had to finish your father his favourite cookies.” Marcie nodded. “I thought I would ask if he could have one tonight, as a treat.”

The two of them struggled out of the elevator and down the hall to the hospice wing. Marcie was carrying some flowers from Martin’s co-workers, they had stopped by earlier to give Sophia and Marcie the flowers. It had sent Marcie’s mother over the edge for twenty minute, adding to their lateness. She was also carrying, her bookbag, and an umbrella. It was a mess and very rainy, also making them late.

Marcie knew what waited for her, while her mother was blissfully unaware. And that made it harder somehow.

“Where are you going?” called a nurse at the nurse’s station. Sophia stopped and turned, no one had stopped her before. They always had let her go back to Martin’s room. She must have been new, her grey hair pinned back, making her wrinkled skin stretch across her face like a shrunken head.

“Just going to Martin LaCroix’s room, we brought him some cookies.” She smiled and held out the tray, offering her a cookie.

“Sorry, but you cannot go back there. Martin has been moved.” The lines on the old nurse face criss-crossed and made her look trollish and mean.

“Moved? Did something happen? Is his in ICU?” The look of worry to panic crossed Sophia’s face.

“No. He passed last night. Sometime after you and your daughter left.” The wrinkles made the word tumble out and fall to the floor of the nurse’s station. “Sorry for your loss…” but the words just blurred together. Sophia started to cry and Marcie just felt numb. Her mother stumbled down the hall to the nearest waiting room chair.

This week:

     *Reading: Finished Oryx and Crake (Margaret Atwood), started The Year of the Flood (Margaret Atwood), been working on The Art of Asking (Amanda Palmer).

     *Writing: I have hit the daily goal of 1667 words a day since Wednesday. Still behind where I should be, but I am continuing. I am going to hit 50k and by months end, by Hell or High Water. Total word count: 22,179

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To continue work on:

     *Editing: since I am getting in a more consistent writing rhythm, I am going to work on The Audition this week. My slightly on the back burner 1 act. Maybe only a little, but I am going to return to it. I want a finished re-draft by rounds end.

     *Blogging: with some more brain power returning, I am going to make this a priority this week. I have a 'One Lovely Blog" award to respond to, complements of the beautiful and talented Jessica Scott.

    *Submitting: this is also on the docket for this week. A solemn promise to get 3 out this week.

I'm participating in A Round of Word sin 80 Days. Check out the Blog Hop to see what us writers/bloggers are up to. I am getting back on the horse, bike, roller skates and getting back on  track. What a ride this Round. How are your goals, Dear Readers (if you are doing AROW80, or not)? What's on the agenda this week?

Been on a Roy Orbison kick lately. One of my favourites. Enjoy!

Amanda Palmer and Adventures with Amy

I had an experience Monday night. It was a vastly good and awesome one.

Road Trip are cool.

I traveled with one of my best friends in college all the way to Cambridge, MA to see Amanda Palmer at her BIG release party of her new book, The Art of Asking. It was a midnight event, starting with the meet-up at Harvard Square and the mini concert she gave, then the march to Porter Square Books, where there was another mini book reading/concert, followed by the wait in line to get and met her in person (with autographs).

Amy and her Ukelele(signed by Amanda and Neil! (SQUEE)

Not having been to something like this before, and only just recently gotten into Amanda music, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleased and surprised. Amanda is awesome. She is someone I would like to sit down and have lunch with, shoot the shit with.

I also didn't know anyone, except Amy. How awkward would I feel? Could I talk to other Amanda fans? I know what your thinking, Dear Readers. Aren't you a Theatre Person, Cindy? Aren't you on stage singing, dancing, acting? Aren't you not afraid to act like a fool onstage?

Yes I am. But I am also originally a shy and quiet wall flower. Sometimes I regress. So, would I be able to fit in? Would I be awkward around the countless strangers there?

Yes and Not at all!

There are fandoms I am quite familiar, Anne McCaffrey and Meatloaf. Others I have grown into like Doctor Who and Sherlock. Others I am new to, as is Amanda Palmer. I know only of her album, Theatre is Evil and that she is married to Neil Gaiman. Amy turned me onto Amanda's work by way of a Mix Tape (remember those days?), and as I get deeper into the Amanda's fandom I am finding it like giant family. I mean, you get hundreds of strangers meeting in the middle of Harvard Square to cheer Amanda Palmer on and suddenly you have old friends who've just met (think Gonzo on that one). That how it was Monday night.

I met fellow Whovians, Sherlockians, hailing from the Rochester area, just to name some of the common grounds while we waiting. The time in line past without notice, the cold didn't seems so cold (for the most part), and new friendships were formed. I got to meet two fantastically sweet people who happen to be celebrities. Neil was handing out calendar pages to the crowd (what a sweet man), so that when we got out of line to watch/listen to the reading and some more music, we could get into the same place in line. We celebrated Amanda's book release, sung songs, hear readings, buy books (after all books are cool), and meet Neil Gaiman. I'm glad I could experience it and be a part such a fandom as well.

See a bit of the fun that was had that night.

Jason Weebly sings of Giraffes

Amanda performing in Harvard Square

Serenading Neil for his Birthday

See if you can find me. I'm wearing a blue zipper hoodie!

Okay, also today is ROW80 check-in. True be told, not a lot of work was accomplished in the last few day.

The road trip to Cambridge has put my NaNoWriMo on hold and my house is a mess. But, it's not a bad thing, sometime you need to take some time. This week is for catching up. With the night creeping in faster, it gets dark by 5:00. Sometimes it feels like there are not enough hours, especially when the days are shorter.

Current Goals:
      *Writing/Editing: get caught up on NaNoWriMo, blog regularly, and edit The Audition to completion.
      *Social Media/Visiting: get back up to visiting 3 blogs a day.
      *Reading: finish reading Oryx and Crake (Margaret Atwood). Start The Art of Asking (Amanda Palmer) and The Year of the Flood (Margaret Atwood).

This Week:
      *Reading: making excellent work of Oryx and Crake.
      *Theatre: beginning work on The Mousetrap auditions in December.
      *Blogging: with the above blog, getting back on track with weekly blogging.

Such a great week, Dear Readers. I hope yours is equally great. If you are curious, go here to visit with other ROW80-ers. I must go and write  A LOT for Road Trip, my NaNoWriMo.

Mr. Gaiman and me (Fan Girl moment)