Murder Murder!

Rehearsals for Jekyll and Hyde are going great! 

So far we have learned two songs from the show; "Facade" and "Murder Murder".  Both have been really fun to learn and to sing.  The music is complicated in spots (which just makes for a better sound in the end), so a few people bring tape recorders to tape individual parts and practice at home.  I have some of these sound files and I hope to post sound bytes of rehearsal on here soon.  I have also posted on the bottom of this blog site details with the attached event flier for the upcoming show. (Shows are in March at Merrimack College).  We have a lot of work to do but I know at this rate we will have created a wonderful end product that you will enjoy! 

A Blog Thought

Recently a friend said to me that she assumed I was unhappy with my life because I was always "doing."  I thought this was an odd assessment of my situation since to me, life is about living and doing!  In fact, I find "not doing" to be the definition of unhappiness.  For me, really living my fullest life involves finding ways to push, challenge and surprise myself.  What is life without experiences?  This recent journey is my newest way of living and I am having such a wonderful time doing it!  And for the record, I feel truly happy and utterly blessed with my life and the people in it. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my loved ones and thank you for your support! 

I am not a hooker!

I was truly hoping that the title of this post would be "I AM a hooker" but alas I was not cast as a "red rat girl" in Jekyll & Hyde as expected.  But I am getting ahead of myself.  Let me explain....

The time has finally come to do the "thing" that has inspired this blog!  Last week, with the help and support of my friends Kim and Allison who are the people behind the "thing" behind the inspiration of this blog,  I auditioned for two community theater plays; "Little Women" and "Jekyll and Hyde."  I am happy to announce that after several hours singing, dancing, waiting and sweating, I have accepted a role as an aristocrat in the ensemble of Jekyll!  Rehearsals have already begun and are Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights.  The play is set to open in March at Merrimack College!

What can I say so far about all this? It has been quite a time-consuming process!  First, auditions.  They start by filling out an application, writing down what part you are auditioning for, and listing your past experience (mine is high school chorus, singing in the shower and to my kids) and attaching your theater resume if you have one (um.. yeah. okay, I don't).  You turn your application in, get a number, take a mug shot (I think in the theater world it's called a head shot) then you wait to be called.  The Little Women (LW) audition was a "you in front of the directors alone thing", meaning no one was watching.  Waiting for this sucked and despite the fact that I looked cool as a cuke while waiting (that was the feedback people, I don't make this up) my nerves were shot.  Let's face it, I haven't sang in 15 years and even then I would say I could carry a tune but I don't hold a candle to talent! (If you think I am being humble just ask my loving and supportive husband :)   With that in mind, I made my application as funny and convincing as possible and auditioned for parts that I thought were reachable (ensemble for Jekyll and the part of a "troll" for LW). 

Anyway... to audition, you are required to sing a song or two in the spirit of the show (whatever.... my choices for both plays were "Part of Your World" from the Little Mermaid and "My Favorite Things" from Sound of Music). The director for LW actually asked me to pretend to pick flowers and sing to them while performing My Favorite Things.  hee hee.  I must have kicked ass on that because despite my efforts to get the part of a "troll" I was called back to read for the part of "Amy", one of the four sisters! Let's just say after I competed for that role I got NO part in LW, not even TROLL! Yeah, they were finally on to me and my lack of singing and theater experience.  Whatever though, their loss, because I WAS cast for Jekyll and I am excited to do that..  So, on to that audition....

For Jekyll & Hyde (JH) you have to audition in front of a room full of people! Let me tell you, these people were so great and supportive (most of them just showed up to watch, not even audition!!), and they brought cookies, I can't forget that part.  But despite this "support" I was so nervous, especially since I had to follow a phenomenal singer who was later cast as the female lead in this play!  Same process as for LW but just one song here.  After cursing out my preceding competitor, I made my way to the front of the room, introduced myself and sang 16 glorious bars of "Part of Your World" and got a raging round of applause (really!!).  JH is a dance-intense musical, so after vocals, they asked us to hang around for auditions part two, which was to learn choreographed dance moves and perform them in front of the directors.  I had to learn both ensemble and "red rat girl" dances.  The red rat girls are the whores in JH and they have a really fun dance scene in the play so you understand why I wanted to be a red rat SO BAD!   The dance for the red rat girls was so much fun and super hard! It was raunchy and racy and left me with bruised knees and in need of a shower afterwards (seriously, I am not making this up).

I left auditions three hours later covered in sweat, dirt and bruises, but because I really can't dance I wasn't cast as a hooker.  (I am sure that's the reason as I am confident I was skanky enough for the part.)  Kim WAS cast as a red rat girl though-- she did great! (As one male watching said to her, "Kim, you are naughty!")

So, on to rehearsals! I plan on posting a separate entry for rehearsals, and maybe a few as I go with progress updates, even though I am pretty sure that no one is reading this!! Anyway, all I can say is that this has been a blast.  It has pushed me beyond my comfort levels and made me feel really crappy about myself at times, but I would not trade this experience for anything.  It has also brought out my competitive spirit and made me want to try harder and do better, which I will!  Just wait until you see the play (which I am making my entire family see- hee hee).    Stay tuned!

A man, his gun, his dog .... and the wife

This post is about duck hunting!!!

While you all were sleeping off your turkey dinners, Eric and I went duck hunting last Friday.  Long story short, no ducks were harmed in the making of this "thing."  So much for the hunting part.

In order to enjoy our nice date day, we needed to first unload our precious cargo, also known as Sophia and Griffin  (and referred to in earlier posts as my "party crew.")

 Luckily awesome aunt Kellie was up to the job of babysitting, so we loaded up and headed off for an afternoon hunt.  Eric took me to the Nashua River in Pepperell , MA.  His friend Dick was nice enough to join us for this adventure (also affectionately called a "shit show" by my loving husband).  Dick just had to see the wife in camo!

We arrived at the river, put on our bad-ass duck hunting gear and packed up the canoe.  (Ok, so Eric packed up the canoe, I just complained about how cold I was.) Bogey squealed in delight the entire time, eager to get his bird.  (sorry Bogey, that never happened.  I know you deserve better than that.)  Here is a photo of me and Bogey dressed for the task at hand.  I know, peeps, I look smokin' hot....

After a short canoe trip across the river, Eric found our spot and we set up shop in a muddy, marshy location.

Here's Bogey checking out the scene

Here's Eric in the canoe

The blind

Me in my kick ass outfit

                                                             

Eric setting up the decoys

Mooooo

 The odd thing was that there were cows in the field right across the way from us.  They didn't seem to mind the gunshots though. 











After we set up the only thing left to do was sit, wait and watch the sky.  Besides my cold fingers and toes, I enjoyed sitting out there and listening to nothing at all.  It was peaceful-- I get why my husband likes hunting.  The boys said some silly stuff like "there is some nice movement in the spread" (meaning the ducks are moving on the water--- why don't they just say so?!) They also participated in some skillful duck calling which I can only imagine sounded like sweet songs of seduction for the ducks. I also now know why Eric comes home empty-handed often.  He and Dick failed to do the "watch the sky" part! Ducks flew over us only three times: two out of the three I had to tell them, "hey guys, there are ducks flying by."  The third time, let's just say I didn't escape without injury!  (See bloodied gum below).

I also want to mention here that wearing your headphones or ear plugs around 12 gauge shotguns is a good idea! Don't take them off! (my ears are STILL ringing!)

We had to end our hunt at 4:16pm because of sunset and while we left empty handed I personally left with a sense of self accomplishment.  I was nervous and reluctant about this trip.  There were so many unknowns to me.  But I really did enjoy myself, I made it through without serious injury and I think it really benefited my relationship with Eric.  After 13 years together, I learned new things about him, and for that I am truly grateful!

Comic Book Mega Show!

BATMAN ROCKS!  

That's right, peeps, I went to a comic book convention!  This "thing" was courtesy of my friend James Donahue.  Thanks to his "dealer" pass (because he had a batman motorcycle on display) I was able to get in FOR FREE without waiting in a two-hour long line.  Much appreciated James!

For the rest of you that don't attend comic book conventions on a regular basis, did you know that those conventions aren't just for comic book people?  Umm, yeah! This one was a "Back to the Future" kind of theme so Christopher Lloyd was there along with the Delorian (spelling?). You could take photos in it for a cost, with the proceeds going to Michael J. Fox's charity.  The other heavy hitter there was Linda Blair (from the exorcist in case you didn't know!) The convention also featured the original muppeteer for Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, Bozo the clown, (NOT "Homie the clown" for those of you under the age of 30) some washed up pro wrestlers from the Hulk Hogan era, porn stars from 20+ years ago, Peter Tork from the  Monkees, etc.. etc..    See some photos of Linda Blair and Christopher Lloyd below. For anyone that wanted to know as much as I did, Big Bird did actually have a person inside him operating him (just one though- can you believe that?!)


 Here is Linda Blair and in the back, Christopher Lloyd
Apart from the randoms (i.e.- Bozo the clown), the convention was what I would expect from a comic book convention (or "ComicCon" as those in the biz like to say-I think...).  There were your typical weirdos dressed up, nerds, geeks, wizards and warlocks.  There were comic books, vinyls, trinkets, and posters for sale for everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Ghostbusters and Archie Comics.  I did my Lynnfield loop as it were through the convention room then headed out to let my son play on the batcycle with Ephram.    Here are some photos!

 The Delorian

 Ephram with his bat cape on

The Bat Cycle

 The Batmobile

A storm trooper thing

Ghostbuster dudes

Inside the convention area, right, and below is the orignal Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch muppeteer

I am glad I opened up my mind to the experience and actually felt what it was like to be in a convention where comic book peeps thrive and feel the rush of the atmosphere, buzzing with petchouli and B.O.  I can't say I will return, but I do feel enlighted by being there.  Thanks again James for a unique experience! And thanks again for reading!

Meat Brings People Together

I learned this weekend that if you cook it they will come!  My cousin Chris was kind enough to invite me over for a go at his meat smoker and he was an excellent host! :) My aunt Mary and uncle Joe came at my urging to graciously help with the kids.  My sister Deanna showed up too, as did my cousin Dann and Teresa's sister/"the neighbor".  Hence the saying, "if you cook it they will come"!

We started our project on Friday by purchasing a 7 pound pork butt and making a spice rub to coat it.  I asked the butcher to put a rub together   for me and he gave me bread crumbs- doh!

No biggie though, we threw some stuff together and I rubbed away!

We let the meat sit overnight and the next night he put it on the smoker, checking it before bed and first thing in the morning.  Here is where I feel I cheated a little with the process.  I feel like if I were a true "smoker" I would be out keeping night vigil over my meat! Just like the big Texans you see on those food competitions on the Food Network, basting and watching the temperature on their smokers like they were watching Christ being born!  Alas, Chris assured me that he had it under control and twist my rubber arm, I was fine with that!  I showed up Sunday morning with two kids in tow and an ice coffee and I was ready to party.

Here are some pics of Chris' home smoker!

 

 Chris told me that the meat temp needs to stay within a certain "smoke" range in order to cook properly. Don't quiz me but I think the max temp you want to reach for smoke is 250 degrees.  If you have cooked your meat right you will end up with a beautiful smoke ring on the inside of the meat.  The rub also turns into a nice crispy crust, called bark.  The meat is cooked using fire, wood chips to season and a pan of water used to create steam.

Here is our meat after being smoked overnight.  We took it off around 12:30 on Sunday.

While we waited for the meat to cook, Chris showed me his recipe for traditional Texas-style chili.  It was delicious! He makes his chili with lots of spices, ground sirloin, beef broth and other surprises.  He doesn't use beans of any kind and his base is not a heavy tomato base.  It was definitely a winning recipe! 

Finally it was time to pull the pork! Chris showed me the proper technique (forks facing out) and then we added some malt vinegar and some barbeque sauce.  We completed our pulled pork on toasted buttered bulky rolls and melted cheddar jack.  We ate like kings!  I finished the day off by returning home with said "party crew" shown above, and took a two hour long, blissful, meat-induced nap!

Thank you Chris for an awesome day of meat exploring, pants-splitting fun!  YUM!

This Isn't a Bucket List

A lot of people have asked if this project is my "bucket list."  The answer is "no" and here's why.  I set off on this journey so-to-speak through inspiration from my friends.  Watching them do what they love and wondering in awe what they experience when in the moment of performing on stage.  As I get older and the things that matter most become crystal clear to me, I realize that the time is now to truly get to know my family and friends inside and out.  This list is more than a bucket list; an agenda of things to do before I die.  It is about more than simply checking something off and saying "I did that."  This project is about getting to know the person behind the thing because they are what matters to me.  YOU are the point of this list, not the things themselves.  More so than knowing you by your title of "sister" "mother" "father" "cousin" or "high school friend;" truly who you are as a person and what makes you tick-- that is what I am after! 

This past weekend at my brother's house, I learned more about my sister-in-law Laural in one hour than I have over the past few years.  That taught me something-- it is not time simply time spent in a room with someone, but what we do with our time spent with those we love, not taking those moments for granted, that truly matters.  What do we really know about the people around us?  Why aren't we asking questions anymore and engaging in meaningful conversation?  I thought of this a while back when I tried to explain to myself who my mother is.  Sure I know her as mom, but as I know now that I am a parent, she was someone before children.  Her children do not define who she is as a person (or didn't at least for 21 years of her life) what she likes and doesn't like, where she has been and what she has done.  What do I know about that person??  Why haven't I tried harder to find out? 

Over time, things crust over, memories harden, and perceptions become solid and defined and tend to remain stagnant despite those around us changing (ie- my high school friends aren't 15 anymore!)  We stop asking questions of those around us as to how they got where they are, why they are there and where they want to be.  It is their journey that defines them, and not their title in your life.  Part of their journey is their "thing"-- what they like to do, or what they do that is such a big part of their life, now or in the past.  I learned from Laural how she got where she is and why.  That is important to me and it is something I will not forget.  I hope to go through that with each person as I check these things off my list. 

Thank you, as always, for reading!

Acrylic, polish and shelac, oh my!

I have checked another item off my list!

 Tonight I did my first manicure, acrylic nails, and even painted with the new "Shelac" gel polish that dries under UV light instantly.  Laural was my muse and Deanna was my subject.  My mission was to put acrylic on all ten nails but due to both a less than enthusiastic subject and a daunting time limit, we ended with just two. :)    I have attached photos and video from our fun night here! As you can see from the videos, Laural did the pinkie acrylic and I did the thumb.  I went on to do a manicure, and put the base coat and first coat on of the gel nail polish.  I let Laural finish it up so Deanna's nails would actually look presentable when she left!  Thank you Laural for sharing your thing and thank you Deanna for being a great victim (I mean sport!)
And PS: Laural put the shelac on my nails too-- it's great!  

The List Continues...

Thank you all for the overwhelming response and support of my new blog!   Several of you have reached out and asked that I add some items to my list.  I have updated the list below, but here are the new additions:

James D. -- attend a comic book convention (November)
Jessica D.-- teach a gymnastics class
Anne and Judy-- kayak in the Pacific
Debbie M-- create stationery (I added this one- I am feeling crafty after my run in with the ornament!)

I hope to start checking some of these off first thing in November.  I am particularly interested in putting acrylic nails on my sister Deanna which I hope to do when Laural returns from her trip!  Stay tuned for more additions...

Finished!

One ornament down, one to go! This isn't your grandmother's (or my grandmother's or Eric's grandmother's) ornament, but it still came out pretty darn OK.  Sophia decided that this one should be Griffin's and that she wants a gingerbread house instead. (this probably isn't up to her standards either :)

Progress

Here is last night's progress.  I finished the candy cane by sewing together and stiching all the sequins on.  I hope to finish this bad boy soon hen focus on another "thing!"  I am directing my attention to joining Chris D. at his meat smoker- that one I have to see.

On another note, it occurred to me that sewing stockings and ornaments was also my grandmother's (my mother's mom) hobby.  We all have stockings to show it! (sorry Salvi).  Maybe I will make Salvi a stocking, not a good one, but at least he will have one too.   :)

Ornaments continued..

Check out last night's progress on the ornament ! I have to say, my stitching sucks but I remain proud of my creation.  I figured out that I think I am supposed to be separating the thread strands out  (I have been sewing clusters of 5 strings of thread for each stitch!) I separated them out and it makes for a much cleaner stitch. 

On another note, I asked Eric how grandma Mae hid her stitches when she was at the end of her thread and his response was "she didn't rush it."  Whatever, he's probably right, but whatever...

I hope to finish this ornament soon and then on to the next project!

Little beads!

I started making the ornaments "a la grandma Mae" the other day.  I have to admit this project started out daunting so I avoided it over the past few weeks.  I got as far as purchasing the ornament kit, reading through the materials, getting the remaining things I needed to start the project like batting, craft scissors, etc.. then organizing my materials.  Then I just stared at it all feeling overwhelmed! The directions are lengthy and a bit confusing which delayed my start.

I decided to ditch the directions (using only the ornament photos as my guide) and finally put needle to felt last week (albeit with some wine in me).  The stitching started off rough (due to both the wine and my impatience to "get it over with").  Looking at my sloppy stitching discouraged me even more. 

Well, last night, with renewed motivation from family (thank you Meredith!) I finally put a sober hand to the craft again.  I posted some starting and ending photos of last night's progress here.  I decided to make a gingerbread man who will eventually be holding a candy cane.  While my embroidery work is nothing to brag about, I am much happier with last night's progress.  (see below).  He actually looks kind of cute! I am looking forward to getting back to this tonight and doing it right (again, thank you Meredith!) 

The one thing that did trouble me (perhaps it would not have, had I read the directions!) was sewing the tiny beads and sequins on to my gingerbread man.  Maggie, if you are reading this, I welcome your advice instructions on how to get those damn things on there the right way.  I refuse to read the directions again!)

On another note, each year, in continuance of my mother's tradition with me and my siblings, I purchase an ornament for my children for our Christmas tree.  When they are older and out of the house, like my mother did, I will give them their box of ornaments.  Last year, I "made" them ornaments by gluing fancy paper to pre-made ornament shapes (wine was involved with that project too :)  Man did I think that was an accomplishment!   It is obvious to me now that this ornament and one more that I hope to make will go to my children when they are done and will surely outshine last year's attempts at ornament-making.  With that in mind, I am really trying to make beautiful finished products for my kids.  I look forward to telling them the story behind the ornaments later in life. 

Thanks for reading.  More to come- stay with me!! 

The Journey Begins...

Dear friends and family:

Thank you for visiting my blog spot and for taking the time to read about my journey through your things! I started this project after an inspirational night at Symphony Hall watching my friends Kim and Allison perform in one of their many shows.

I have known Kim and Alli for over 20 years and theater has always been a part of their life. As I sat watching them at the theater that night I realized that I had no idea what they go through when they perform: what it's like to audition, to rehearse and to get on that stage night after night in front of a crowd of people. I feel like I know them inside and out, and I certainly know what it's like to watch them perform, but I don't know how the experience is for them. Thus, the motivation to audition for a play and to experience not only their "thing" but all of your "things": the hobbies and interests of my family and close friends.

So, the journey begins this week. As a tribute to my husband's late grandmother, Mae, who passed in September, I am starting with one of her "things" which is to make stockings and ornaments for family. I purchased my very first ornament making kit and will post photos and entries of my progress through this process!