No photos today. I’m just not up to it.

This has been an extremely hard week, emotionally. My friend and colleague died much too young and the reality of that loss has been heartbreaking. And last night, I learned that a show I worked on, which was transferring to Broadway, is suddenly NOT going to Broadway. I can’t discuss details and to be perfectly honest, I don’t know them. I hope to know eventually. Believe me, this was happening soon, at the beginning of March. I was looking forward to more work, another Broadway credit, and being reunited with the wonderful cast of actors. They are, and I quote, ‘gobsmacked.’ They’re devastated. This news, while very upsetting for me personally, has a much more devastating impact on all of them. They thought they were moving the show to Broadway and now they’re not.

I had trouble sleeping last night and I’m still rocked by this news today.

I’m 70 years old. I still want and need to work, both for creative and financial reasons. I was counting on a little more income, knowing that as a freelancer, there are no guarantees for the rest of the year. Don hasn’t worked in over 4 years, which is heartbreaking and frustrating for him. I’m praying things turn around for him this year. He, like me, needs to work. He needs to do what he he does so well. So the cancellation of potential income for us has left me very, very sad.

Anyway, this news came my way late last night. I’ve definitely shed some tears over it.

One other thing: I mentioned in the comments yesterday that I was concerned about regular reader Chris K in Wisconsin. I was suddenly aware that I hadn’t seen a comment from her in a long time and when I looked it up, I saw that the last comment was on November 23rd. Donnamae, another reader from Wisconsin, and Shanna were also concerned. So I wrote to Chris. I don’t want to divulge too many details until I’m sure it’s okay with Chris, but on Thanksgiving day, she suddenly had trouble moving and walking and she was rushed to the hospital. She had lots of tests, and after about two weeks in the hospital, she was moved to Rehab. She’s still there, but she assures me that PT and OT have really helped and she is doing much better. She did say she could use our prayers, so let’s send them her way. We love you, Chris!

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Sharing a sad little story with a temporary happy ending:

I am a cracker lover. I inherited that trait from my dad, who loved nothing more than an afternoon snack of crackers and cheese.

But I’m picky about my crackers. I used to love Triscuits, then I fell out of love with them. Eventually, I discovered Stoned Wheat Thins and they became my cracker of choice. (I also love Wheat Thins and they currently function as an afternoon treat.)

But Stoned Wheat Thins? I loved them for years and years.

My neighborhood store also carried their own version of these crackers so I sometimes bought those. There were slight differences, but they were, in essence, the same cracker.

A few months back, Don started noticing that they were often not in stock. We’d wait it out and some would appear again. Or he’d go to another store to find a box. But, more and more, they weren’t there. And that includes the Hannaford version (local grocery store.) We didn’t know what the heck was going on.

Finally, at some point in late December or early January, when Don was at a grocery store, he asked a guy who was stocking crackers what was happening. The dreaded words: “I don’t think we’re carrying them anymore.” What??? Further conversation led to “I don’t think they’re making them.” Don had to break the news to me when he got home.

I couldn’t believe it. These are wildly popular crackers. I immediately started googling the crackers to find out what the heck was going on. I happened on several posts by people who were mourning the loss of SWT and had been grappling with shortages since last October. Several commented that they were the only crackers they liked and had been buying them for years. They are made by Red Oval Farms in Canada, a division of Mondelez – a corporate giant –  which is part of Nabisco. I wrote to Mondelez and asked them why they would make that decision, and to please bring them back.

You won’t be surprised by this – no answer.

Today I found a little article on the cracker outrage from Slate.

Don kept suggesting we would find a substitute, but I knew there was nothing comparable. For years, my morning pre-breakfast routine has included a cup or two of coffee and 3 or 4 Stoned Wheat Thins.

As my last sleeve of crackers was already down to 6 or 7 crackers when I heard they were being discontinued, I ate one per day to slow down the inevitable. In the meantime, Don kept checking out the local grocery stores in case boxes appeared on the shelves.

My last cracker, which I held on to for days until I finally ate it.

A few weeks went by. I started working on Darko’s workshop. One day, Don picked me up from the bus station and showed me what he found at the grocery store.

Hannaford’s version of Stoned Wheat Thins. Two boxes. Oh my heavens! He said they had just put them on the shelf. Was it leftover stock? I checked the date on the box and was assured they were fresh. We looked at each other with the realization that he should buy more – if there were any left on the shelf.

I came home from another rehearsal, tired as all get out. After we had dinner, he told me to look in the kitchen cupboards. Why? Just look in them, he said.

Oh my heavens to the sixth degree!

So now I have a reprieve. But I suspect it’s only temporary. Hopefully, after their boneheaded move, Mondelez will get it together and start making them again.

In the meantime, I’m eating them very slowly, fully aware that this might be their last hurrah.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Day 4 of rain and fog.  I think we’re heading out of this weather pattern later today. Fingers crossed.

The *%*#show  continues in Washington, DC, where we are being held hostage by the same people who incited and supported the insurrection, which took place two years ago today. I was sort of half watching yesterday – as was Don – and I finally had to say ‘No More.’ It was ludicrous and disgusting at the same time and I felt it taking its toll on my state of mind.

I finished reading the newest by Michael Connelly and returned it to the library. I started another book but I’m not sure I’m the mood for it. I’ll give it another chance later today. I also have to keep in mind that I’ll be commuting to NYC next week so I want whatever I’m reading to be light and portable.

A bit of a sigh here; I think I’m in the holiday letdown part of the month, where all the lights and magic are gone (save for our outdoor lights, they’re still up) and I’ve returned to daily worries about all sorts of things, including money and work and the future and friends who are ill. I’m sure I’m no different than anyone else – we’re so grateful when there’s something that takes us away from all of that – like Christmas. Or the movie premiere, in my case.

Speaking of that, I want to thank everyone who has watched Spoiler Alert. Some of you wrote to me, either on this blog or via an email, and your praise for my work means the world to me. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of opening nights in my career, including two on Broadway – four, if you count Don’s – but coaching the movie and getting the chance to appear in it? The biggest deal of my career. So, thank you. I hope more of you get the chance to see it in the future. It’s such a wonderful movie. Don is crazy about it and he’s pretty picky. Yes, some of that is about me, but more than that, he thinks it’s wonderfully acted and directed and loves the story.

Okay. Time to do some laundry and chores.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.