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.

A little corner in the den.

Yet another TBR pile, including a book by Andy Weir that Deb sent, and another book written by the daughter of a longtime blog friend, Chevy in the Hole.

I moved the aqua McCoy vase in here when I was setting up the putz house village and I haven’t moved it back. I’m enjoying it in this corner. I didn’t plan it this way but Wren and Lily seem to be color-coordinated with the house and the vase and the blue bottle.

It’s a quiet week here at the cottage, which suits us fine. The extremes in the weather have impacted my troublesome sinuses. I’m just now feeling better as we hurtle into more extremes; temperatures in the fifties. Last week, wind chills well below zero, drips from the faucet to keep the pipes from freezing. This week and next, positively balmy weather. Go figure.

We watched the Kennedy Center Honors last night. Beautiful. We always feel uplifted by this testament to the power of the arts – to lives dedicated not only to the arts, but often to service, as well. It was just what we needed. Both of us have spent our entire adult lives in the arts. It certainly isn’t easy and the pay isn’t always great, but I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Other than that, my friends, I’m going to finish a book this morning because…you guessed it…another one just arrived at my local library. I’m stacked up and holding. I have to search for coconut cream to make the Linzer Tart Cookies. I have to buy caulk for the bathtub. Things like that. Not very exciting, but that’s just fine. Soon enough, I’ll be commuting into the city for Darko’s project.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

• Flowers from Don.

I needed some cheering up, I suppose. I came up against the same thing I almost always have to deal with as a dialect/text/voice coach in the theater; an offer that is problematic. I don’t want to go into details, but it’s for a workshop so the budget is understandably low. I get it. But it will require me to commute into the city for several days and at about $50 a day, the travel costs add up. I would be earning far less than my standard fee – which, by the way, is much less than many other coaches. I thought I had a way to get around it, which would have been to stay at my former student’s apartment in Brooklyn, but she has already rented it for January. Living far from NYC is always a problem when negotiating a contract.

Sometimes when I’m wrestling with something, I turn it over to my Higher Power and wait for guidance. And I did that. The next morning, I received the clear thought to contact my former student. Since this seemed like what I call a God-Shot, I was sure it would work out. But no. So I was a bit crestfallen and Don got me the flowers.

This is a job I want to do because it’s for a longtime colleague and friend of mine. I don’t have an answer yet and I know I’ll be talking to the person who is arranging this today. I don’t need advice. I’m just sharing this particular struggle. Theater budgets are, by necessity, small. It’s just the way of the world.

• I had a paragraph or two here about success and applauding each other’s achievements, but it’s being misinterpreted – most likely because I was clear enough in my intent. So I’m going to delete it as I don’t want it to be overblown. Sigh. Moving on…

• Don has a YouTube channel and he has begun posting his new work and some of his older songs, as well. If you have any interest in his songs and are so inclined, would you subscribe to his channel? If he reaches 100 subscribers, he will get his own URL instead of the very long address that he has now. This is the link to his channel. Thanking you in advance.

And finally:

The girls in the slammer. (Late afternoon sun and the blinds in the den.)

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.