Don — Page 112

Grateful For The Feast

February 7, 2017 at 10:01 am by Claudia

Late afternoon sun. I spent the afternoon cleaning, doing laundry and other chores, all the while playing Ravel’s Bolero over and over again at very high volume. Don was out and about, so I didn’t have to worry about making him crazy. The recording (from 1980) that I found at the record shop was – is – really spectacular with the ending the best I’ve ever heard it done.

Sometimes I forget how great music and a sunny day can change my mood for the better. Yesterday was one of those days.

But today is rainy and gray and it looks like it will stay that way.

I just realized that I have no idea where my script for Anastasia is. It’s here, I know it is, but I moved it from the floor right by my desk to some other place, which, at the moment, is unknown. Since rehearsals start on Thursday, I have to find it, pronto.

I’m so looking forward to working on Anastasia again. It’s such a beautiful musical. Most of the original cast will return and it will be lovely to see everyone again. And it’s Broadway, for goodness sake, which makes me very happy. While I’ve worked in NYC a lot, the majority of productions I’ve worked on have been what is considered off-Broadway. I worked on a Broadway musical well over 12 years ago which starred Michael Crawford and was big and bold and a more than a bit misguided. It had a short run.

Anastasia, on the other hand, already has fans all over the world and it has a beautiful book, written by Terrence McNally, lyrics and music by Ahrens and Flaherty (who wrote the music for the animated movie and also wrote the musical Ragtime,) and a talented cast directed by Darko.

Looking at the rehearsal schedule and the days I will have to be there, I realized that the week I’m staying in NYC for dress rehearsals and previews will be the same week that Don leaves for California.

It’s all happening fairly quickly. Anastasia, Don leaving for California and Escape to Margaritaville, and then Heartbreak House at Hartford Stage.

And sometime in the midst of all of that, I have to find time to clean up the garden and plant seeds.

Feast or famine. I’m grateful for the feast.

A must read (at least for yours truly): from John Pavlovitz – his latest post.

Happy Tuesday.

Bluebirds & Finding Balance

February 2, 2017 at 9:57 am by Claudia

Next week, it will be one year since our girl left us. When winter started to set in, I grabbed this memorial stone (a gift from dear Linda) and brought it inside. I didn’t want her out there in the elements.

I know you understand.

I am in the middle – in fact, both of us are – of trying to figure out how to balance my anger and outrage about what has happened since January 20th with the fact that I have to take care of myself. Someone said I was very angry and my internal response was, ‘You’re damned right, I’m angry. The election was stolen. We have a man of dubious mental fitness at the helm of our country. People are being hurt, families are being uprooted.” I won’t deny it and I won’t apologize for it.

Watch the signs, my friends, we are being maneuvered into a position where war seems like an inevitability.

And, though I consider myself a tolerant person (but human, like all of us) there is no room for tolerance when we’re talking about racism, bigotry, misogyny, Islamophobia or xenophobia. That is non-negotiable.

Complacency is not an option. Acceptance is not an option. My favorite sign from Don’s post about the March in Washington was “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”

Nevertheless, I need to take care of myself. And you need to take care of yourselves. And how do we do that? It took me ages to fall asleep last night because this was swirling about in my brain. I don’t want to lose my edge, to lose my desire to fight. I could never forgive myself if I sat back, gave up, and did nothing. But I also have a life to live, work on the horizon, things to do and, at the age of 64, I want and crave peaceful pockets in my days.

This is a question – a discussion – I would love to have with all of you. How do we maintain balance? I can’t let everything he says drive me insane. I have to accept the fact that he is insane and that’s not going to change. I need to see the bigger picture and as Don reminded me this morning, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

How do we find balance? How do you find balance? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. I think we can help each other.

Today’s schedule? My camera. A Gentleman in Moscow. Maybe a walk. Some hot chocolate. A hug from my husband – make that several. Stay away from Twitter.

I did find a pocket of camera time yesterday. Last week, I saw a bluebird at the birdbath and I couldn’t get to my camera and lens quickly enough to take a picture. Yesterday, while on the phone with Don, I saw another bluebird and I told Don, “I have to hang up. Now.”

But gosh darn it, they move so quickly, and I have to station myself nearby the windows because if I go outside, I’ll scare them away, so my options are more limited.

The presence of bluebirds around here in the winter makes me smile and it also makes me wonder: Where are they in the spring and summer? Do they come here from more northern climes? Is this their winter home? There are a lot of them around here this winter and they’ve been hanging around for quite a while.

Not all that successful, but I did manage a few shots with the telephoto lens.

Late afternoon, gray sky, but there he is.

This one is hidden in the wild roses, aka the dreaded brambles. They provide good cover.

This little sweetie was way off on the other side of the corral at the edge of the woods.

I’ll keep trying.

It’s amazing, really, how many birds are active at any given moment in the dead of winter. When I stop and concentrate entirely on watching for movement of some kind, I realize that there are dozens and dozens of birds flying around. All the time. It’s truly a wonder.

It’s sunny today. More bird watching/photo taking is on the docket.

Because it makes me happy and it’s a form of self-care.

I have a new book review on Just Let Me Finish This Page today. Click here to read it.

Happy Thursday.

And It Continues

January 31, 2017 at 10:02 am by Claudia

Snow is falling outside my window as I write this. So far, just a sprinkle, but 1 to 3 inches is expected. A good day to stay in the house and do…I’m not sure what yet…but something. Read, certainly. I’m thinking a good cleaning of the bathroom will work off some of my ever-present anxiety.

That man fired the Acting Attorney General for standing up to him and refusing to enforce his clearly illegal executive order. Shades of Nixon and Watergate. And we know how that ended up.

I’ll restate the obvious. He needs to resign or be impeached. As I don’t see him ever resigning, for that would be admitting he was wrong and we know he is incapable of that, he must be impeached. He thinks America is his business empire. He believes he can hire and fire anyone he wants and that if he gives an order it must be followed, even if it’s immoral or illegal.

He’s getting awfully close, if not already there, to being a fascist. And he has his very own Rasputin at his side.

Okay. I don’t mean to write about this crap every day but, let’s face it, each new day brings more horrors. It’s pretty much the sum total of what’s on our mind here at the cottage. And why shouldn’t it be? I can’t think of anything more important – at least, to us – at the moment. If you’re tired of it, you can click out of this post and move on. I completely understand. However, our lives have changed since January 20th. If yours hasn’t, it just might in the not-too-distant future. I hope not, for my wish for you and for everyone is happiness and peace.

My sister has finished my pink hat and it’s on the way to me. When it arrives, I promise to have Don take a picture of me sporting my new hat.

Let’s see, what else is new? Anastasia starts rehearsals next week. It will be lovely to see everyone again. Many of the cast members from Hartford will be in this production, including 4 out of the 5 lead actors; many of the same dancers/ensemble members, as well. But there are new additions and that will also be exciting. I can’t wait to hear that glorious music again. I won’t need to be there all of the time, of course, but I’ll be in and out of rehearsals.

Don is planning on driving out to La Jolla sometime in March. He loves nothing more than a long road trip and he’s going to get our 16 year old car in shape for the journey. The mechanics that work on it assure him that the car can handle it. Fingers crossed! So he’ll be leaving while I’m still working on Anastasia and then I’ll be back in Hartford in late April to work on Heartbreak House.

We are very grateful.

I long for Spring, but to be perfectly honest, my mind is so preoccupied with calling my representatives, going to meetings, taking actions, etc., that I’m less restless than usual. There’s plenty to keep me occupied. It would be nice to have a carefree sort of day, but I don’t think that’s in the cards for a while.

By the way, Linda left a comment yesterday saying that the ACLU has pocket sized versions of the Constitution available on their site – 10 for $11.99. I’m thinking of buying some and handing them out at an appropriate time/event.

Happy Tuesday.

Grateful For The Feast

Bluebirds & Finding Balance

And It Continues

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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