reading — Page 56

Hey, Boo

January 10, 2017 at 10:17 am by Claudia

I slept in this morning – thankfully – after being jolted awake during the night by the sound of snowplows on the street below my apartment. Gosh, they’re loud! I guess it snowed a bit last night, though when I look out the window, the amount of snow seems minimal.

Tell me this isn’t crazy – the temperature here tomorrow will reach 50° and Thursday? 55°. What the heck? I read about that gorgeous redwood with the tunnel toppling in the storms out in California. Oh, how sad. Such history and beauty – gone in a second.

These came in the mail from our friends Lynne and Sean, who live in Toronto. I don’t know where she finds them, but Lynnie always finds unique treasures. And could these be any more perfect for Mockingbird Hill Cottage? I’m thrilled with them! In fact, I had some hot chocolate in one of them on Sunday.

And they capture one of the most beautiful moments in that book. “Hey, Boo.” That particular line of dialogue brings tears to my eyes every time. Thank you, Lynne and Sean. We love you.

I’ve started another Elizabeth George – one I purchased before I came to Hartford in December. Just in case. You understand. I always have this particular conversation going on in my head:

“I’m enjoying this book by this author. But what if I finish it and I love it and I don’t have any other novels on hand by this author? If I’m in the mood for more, I won’t want to start a book by another author…hmmmm…I’d better buy this book also written by the author. Just in case.”

This particular Elizabeth George happens to be the book that follows Believing the Lie, so I clearly lucked into picking the right one.

Today, I’ll wander over to the theater, where the initial tech rehearsal continues. Tech started on Sunday – it’s a slow process – and will go on through today. And maybe part of tomorrow. By tomorrow night, we should be able to have a run-through of the show. And Thursday night is the first Preview for audiences. See how quickly it goes? Once we start Previews, I’ll be sitting in the house every night, taking notes on what I can hear and not hear, what needs to be articulated more clearly, and any other Voice & Text issues that arise. Previews will go on through a week from Thursday and then we will open on Friday, January 20th (boy am I glad I have something joyous and happy to watch that day, otherwise I might be slitting my wrists!) and I will return to the cottage the next day.

Today, I’ll check in and see how the show looks with the set, costumes, lighting and sound.

Happy Tuesday.

Flowers, Reading & Run-Throughs

January 6, 2017 at 9:54 am by Claudia

The afternoon sunlight was casting its glow on the flowers yesterday. Very photo-worthy. The flowers, by the way, that were purchased nearly three weeks ago and are still going strong. Alstroemeria: more bang for your buck, and very little in terms of bucks if you buy them at Trader Joe’s, than any other cut flower I can think of.

I woke up with a very stuffy head this morning. I’m not sure why. It did start to snow overnight, but very little has fallen. At 5:30 am some sort of heavy machinery woke me up (one of the drawbacks when you live downtown) and because I can’t always tell what time it is by the light that enters the apartment, I got up, looked at the clock in the kitchen, and promptly climbed back in bed. It took about an hour, but I finally went back to sleep, whereupon I was jolted from sleep at 8 am by a police siren. Ah, the joys of urban living!

Today is the very last day in the rehearsal room. We had a run-through yesterday and will have another one today. The Bollywood number is simply delightful. I was laughing and clapping and completely under its spell. My friend Peggy is the choreographer and she is simply amazing. So: another run-through today and then everyone and everything moves to the theater. Tomorrow will be what is called a spacing rehearsal, where the director goes through each scene and adjusts the positions of the actors on the set. This set, as do most, has levels – and buildings and doorways and docks and boats…so all of that has to be dealt with. On Sunday, tech will start.

Since I’m not needed tomorrow or even Sunday, I’ll go home tomorrow morning for a couple of days. I’ll return for Tuesday’s rehearsal, which will be a continuation of Sunday’s tech, starting wherever they left off on Sunday.

I’ve reached the halfway point in Believing the Lie. That means I’m 300 pages in. It’s quite engrossing and I’m most definitely hooked. She’s a very, very good writer. I also pre-ordered (something I never do) the upcoming new release from Deborah Crombie, Garden of Lamentations, which comes out next month. I had a very modest credit with Amazon, so I applied it to the book and I only had to pay half of the hardcover price.

It’s Friday. My head is stuffy. I’m drinking my second cup of coffee. I’m writing to you. Soon, some oatmeal and then a shower, where I’m hoping the steam will clear out my congestion. Fingers crossed.

Happy Friday.

Be (Reading) Prepared

January 2, 2017 at 9:05 am by Claudia

What day is it? With the holidays and rehearsals and rehearsals on holidays and then Monday holidays, I hardly know which way is which. I’m over it. I’m ready to get back on a regular schedule, please.

Sherlock is back. I knew it was airing last night on PBS, though I had to remind Don about it yesterday. Shocking, full of twists and turns and incredibly well done. I still have some questions about yesterday’s episode and I feel the need to watch it one more time to hear those little underplayed lines that are almost tossed away but are oh-so-important. I can’t stop thinking about it this morning which makes it quite successful, doesn’t it?

One thing about a large coffee table: you can stash lots of current and future reading matter there. From the upper left: several sections of the Sunday New York Times (not yesterday’s, but a week ago) that I have yet to read; Upstream by Mary Oliver, my favorite poet – though this book consists of essays; a special issue of The Nation centering on The Obama Years (oh, how I’ll miss him!); underneath that is an issue that you can’t see of Mother Jones with the cover story, “Rise Up”, and you can bet I will; Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George, which I bought as a remainder a year or so ago and started yesterday, as I have once again realized how gifted George is – it clocks in at 608 pages; All the Light We Cannot See, which I still haven’t started, but will, I promise; underneath that book is A Lowcountry Life by the late, great Pat Conroy, subtitled Reflections on a Writing Life; and underneath that is Junk Gypsy by the Sikes sisters, which I read bits of at a time. And next to that is the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle. There are also two books under the turquoise lamp in order to give it some height, and two more books of a spiritual nature on the bedside table.

Oh, I forgot to add the Kindle to that list. It’s also here. In fact, I just finished an eGalley housed within its depths.

I come prepared.

Because heaven forbid I am anywhere, anytime, without reading matter. As long as I can remember, that has been a top priority. Carrying a book with me while I run errands, or sit in a waiting room. Packing enough books for a trip. Always having some sort of book to read because you never know when you might have some unexpected reading time, somewhere, somehow.

Today, after I go to Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s and stop in at Target and the bookstore, I’ll come back to the apartment, put everything away, and reply to your comments. Then, on this day off, I’ll treat myself to some hot chocolate (using soy milk) and read.

Sounds like a good way to start the New Year.

Happy Monday.

Hey, Boo

Flowers, Reading & Run-Throughs

Be (Reading) Prepared

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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