OOOOOOMMMMMMMM

This is a post about meditation!

Who doesn't need a good lesson in breathing sometimes?  For me, controlling my breath yogi-style helped me through two unplanned drug-free childbirths!  Now, when I find myself feeling anxious, I need a lesson in breathing.  But apart from what I learned in yoga classes over the years, no one has ever taught me how to meditate to control my mind, body, breath.   Enter brother in-law, "Moxie".  While his "thing" isn't posted, it should be!  I went to Moxie to learn how to meditate because I want to manage my stress and anxiety better  (I know many of you are shocked to hear that my tightly-wound self ever feels anxious! :) ).  He was surprised by my request to say the least, and threw me a curve ball to get me off his tail for a while.  My first, lesson: read this:

a "practical guide" to learning how to control one's breath.  Yeah right.  Apparently my brother in-law cherishes this damn thing because it's his only copy (Circa 1970's but still in great shape).  I don't think he expected me to get through it  (and neither did I for a while as I paged through illustrations of netti pots and pretzel-yogi poses) BUT I DID! Impressed was he, my brother in-law.  I can't say I learned much from it though, other than "you will never be a meditation master" and "don't try this at home. Seriously, don't."  (Okay, the book doesn't really say that but that's how it made me feel!)

Now I am ready for step two: sitting down with Moxie for stage one in my lesson.  I am a hands-on learner so there is no better way to learn than dive head first in (unless of course I am learning to snowboard...)  However, such lesson will have to wait because Moxie is on his own personal expedition- he is hiking Mt. Rainer this month!  Good luck brother in-law and please don't get hurt because you owe me a full meditation lesson! 

Namaste people!!

An Inspirational Story

Hi all,

I am sure many of you have read today's article about the man that lost his pregnant wife on Flight 93 on 9/11.  http://news.yahoo.com/pregnant-flight-93-victim-honored-by-husband-s-lasting-tribute.html 

A part of the article resonated with me, specifically, that he published a book that his wife had been dreaming about completing called "You Can Do It!"  The book is about teaching women how to accomplish their dreams, from skydiving (check!) to knitting.  Check it out:  http://www.amazon.com/You-Can-Do-Handbook-Grown-Up/dp/0811846350 

Sounds a lot like one of the purposes of my project so I thought I would share! I am probably going to purchase this book (perhaps it will help me with doing your things!)  I welcome feedback on the book from anyone who has already read it.

Thanks!

"Fun" Run 5K in 99 degree weather!

Running in the heat and humidity: fun, you ask? Yes! With the promise and allure of free pizza and slush at the finish line, despite the heat, I ran an impromptu 5K last night with my neighbor Melissa.  Here is a photo of me with my biggest fans (aka- the "party crew"):

I did it to gear up for my 10K training with Danielle (and Sara --- yes, Sara, you ARE doing it with us!) and to continue the momentum of getting back on track.  Also, to prepare for my beatings from my own personal "Jillian", my sister Gina! (She is threatening to post a "before" bikini photo of me online.  If that isn't motivation I don't know what is!)

Getting back to the 5K thing, Melissa and I have searched the neighborhood for 5K's offering good, free food at the finish line, and so far our favorite find is the "On the Border" run in Woburn.  Free tacos and margaritas!! Hell ya! I think this run is every Tuesday night in Woburn.   Email me or leave a comment if you are interested in joining us!

Cheers!

Getting back on track

It's been a while since I have posted and that's because things at work have been busy. The summer months are promising to be less hectic so I hope to get back on track with doing your things. Check in with me and let's see what we can get accomplished together! I think the next big project is Gina's thing which is fitness and nutrition. Hopefully my workout regimen will allow for some beer and summer fun :)

Cheers everyone!

Would you do it again? What have you learned? Have you learned your lesson? What's next?

Those seem to be the questions I get most from doing this, and my answers are:

(1) Would you do it again? 
Yes, yes yes, and in fact I am doing some of the things again (except the snowboarding, BUT I would take a boarding lesson);

(2) What have you learned?
I have learned a whole bunch! But what I have learned from each and every experience is this:  If you do something, do it RIGHT! Put your whole self into that experience and don't waste the opportunity when you have it to do that thing to the best of your ability and efforts!  I find this mantra popping up in every aspect of my life, from work to motherhood, and this experience is no exception.  In hindsight, I learned that I was too preoccupied with accomplishing the task that I didn't take time enough to enjoy it!   I wanted to check things off my list and continue on my way, often missing the point of this project in the first place.  I am taking that valuable lesson with me as I continue on my journey through your things!

(3) Have you learned your lesson?
I hate that question, as if I am supposed to be "punished" for trying something new!  NO, I have not "learned my lesson"! Just because I didn't like something or got hurt doing it, that does not mean that I will shy away from it.  The lesson learned was that these things are your things that take time and energy and effort and I took that for granted.  (See my answer to number two!!)  I won't snowboard again, not because I got hurt, but because I didn't enjoy it.  Isn't that what counts?

(4) What's next?
Stay tuned as what's next is beginning my fitness training with my sister and combining that with my efforts to run road races with my friends!  AND, this time, I am hiring a trainer and seeking professional nutrition and fitness advice from my sister, who I am sharing this "thing" with!!

I am taking a break at the moment due to my broken elbow which is quickly on the mend, but also due to my hectic work schedule (do it right or don't do it at all, remember :) )

Thanks for reading!!

Show's over! No broken legs but a broken elbow!

JH is over and what a blast that was!  Thankfully I didn't literally break a leg, although I am told I did tear it up on the stage :)  However, I DID manage to break a bone doing the next thing on my list---snowboarding!! In an attempt to barrel-ass down the bunny slope, I broke my right elbow.  Here is a lovely "before" photo:

Don't we look super cute and excited?

And here are, sadly, the after photos:

 I learned a lot from that. mostly:

(1) I don't like snowboarding
(2) snowboarding is hard
(3) spring skiing in New England is kind of crappy
(4) don't try something new and dangerous without lessons
(5) always wear your helmet on the slopes and
(6) I don't like snowboarding!

I hope to write more on the subject as well as more on doing the play but I am typing with one hand at the moment which sort of stinks if you don't know already.  Check back in with the blog in a week or two! I will post more on JH and snowboarding.

Thanks for reading!
Yours truly,
the one-armed writer

Show in Progress!

One weekend down of the show and one more to go!  Check out photos from rehearsals and dress rehearsal, courtesy of my CCP friends!  I plan on posting more photos taken from backstage before the shows.

This link is rehearsal at the Hose House:

http://colonialchorus.com/JHRehearsalPhotos.html

and this one is dress rehearsal at the Rogers Center (I am in the last one):

http://colonialchorus.com/JHPhotos.

Cheers!

It's T-Shirt Time! No, Wait.... It's SHOWTIME!!!

After many months, I cannot believe the time has come-- it's showtime! Jekyll & Hyde opens this Saturday at the Rogers Center at Merrimack College!

This week is called "tech week"  but affectionately named "hell week" for reasons any week would be called hell week.  Rehearsals, rehearsals, rehearsals!  Tonight we had a partial tech run and yesterday we spent the day putting the set together and then off to rehearsal with the orchestra!  Here are some photos from set building at the Rogers Center.  I cannot wait to perform there, it is incredible.  I am told by the theater junkies that this is quite the privilege to perform here.  Take a look!


View from the audience



View from the stage

Lucy's bedroom

Putting together the ballroom wall

Putting together Jekyll's lab

Jeykll's lab

I am putting a cabinet doorknob on :)

A camera phone photo of Jill and Meghan putting Jeykll's lab together

Tech Run

Aristrocrat props!

Here is the orchestra pit with some of the ballroom wall sitting inside. You can see that the top of the

"walls" are peeking over the stage floor.  

I hope to see you all there- can't wait!

P.S.-- having sat through countless shows, it is a lot more fun to be on stage rather than looking at it!  :)

Theatah Jargon

Hello all,
In order to get you in the mood for some theatrics, i thought it would be fun to share with you the theater dictionary I am building as I navigate my way through rehearsals.

Upstage: the back

Downstage: the front (brownie points for those of you that can tell me where those names come from without googling!)

Fourth wall: the audience

Drag through: run through of a scene or act

Principal: a nice way of saying a lead role

Blocking: choreographing or setting places for scenes

Straight tone: singing without vibrato

Vibrato: that funny vibration noise you hear from good singers (i don't sing with vibrato :)

Set building, ticket sales, playbooks and biographies

Hello friends,

It's been a while since I last blogged because I have been so busy with rehearsals!
Jekyll & Hyde is going great and I am really enjoying the experience. I feel proud to be a part of this production and as it gets closer I can't wait to show all of you what I have been working on these past few months!

The show is fun but also challenging. The music is fast paced, the choreography is hard for a scatter brain like me to remember and the cast is huge.  I guess that's theater for you! Last night we did what is called a "drag through" of act II, which is exactly what it sounds like- a run of the entire act.  I have to say a big kudos to our leads, Bobby (as Jekyll), Lori (as Lucy) and Brittany (as Emma).  They are truly talented folks that really make our production special.  I am excited for those of you coming to see such a talented cast! I just hope to keep up and not screw up. :)

If you want a sneak peak, here is a sound file for "Murder Murder" from rehearsal.  This was our first run through of the full song.  It's 8 minutes long(!) but during the show there is dialogue (and murders!) to break it up. Thank you to my cast members Chris and Andy for sharing this link!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8066055/Jekyll%20%26%20Hyde/25%20-%20Murder%20Murder.mp3

On top of the rehearsing, cast members are encouraged to sell tickets (of course) but also sell ads in our playbook to promote local businesses, and to help with set building, painting and costume creation.  (For any locals interesting in purchasing an ad in our book please comment to this post or email me if you have my email address. Ads are due by Feb. 27). 

The Hose House, where we rehearse, becomes a hive of activity on Friday nights, Saturday afternoons and Monday nights, with cast members, their friends and family and past group members all lending a hand with creating the set and costumes.  It is very exciting to see the pieces falling into place and to see an end in sight. For instance, my ballroom costume started off as an old ugly prom dress and has slowly transformed into a Victorian England-era ball gown.  Sophia has been a great help at set painting too so for those of you reading the playbook at the play you will see her name as a helper!  Here are some photos of us painting the set at the Hose House

Ronnie painting the benches for the "Wedding Scene"

Here's Kim, one of the prostitutes :)

For those of you interested in attending the play, here are the details again.  They will also be posted at the bottom of my blog page until the show is done.

Show dates are:

March 19, 25 and 26 at 8pm
and March 20 at 2pm

At the Rogers Center for the Arts, Merrimack College, North Andover, MA
Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and seniors (ages 65+).  *group rates available for parties of 15 or more.

For more information visit http://www.colonialchorus.com/ or call 781-944-9780 or of course contact me for tickets.

Thanks again for reading- More to come!