Shakespeare — Page 2

Two Questions For You

February 1, 2017 at 9:59 am by Claudia

Just had to take a picture of the February page on this calendar from Rifle Paper Co. Isn’t it pretty?

Happy – and often lately, unhappy – February! But of course my wish is for it to be continuously happy for all of you.

We just won’t talk about the nominee for the Supreme Court. I did not watch any of his reality-show-like announcement. As I’ve tweeted to him many times, I’d rather watch paint dry. By the way, if you do tweet him, keep using the hashtag, #PresidentBannon. It will annoy him to no end.

By the way, I will now be referring to that man with this abbreviation: FIC. I’ve given hints as to what this stands for in my posts and in my comment replies. Let’s see who will be the first reader to correctly answer the question: What does FIC stand for? Go for it!

It snowed all day long yesterday – I suppose we got about 3 inches or so. In the early evening darkness, we shoveled the driveway. It was a powdery and lightweight snow, so much to Don’s disappointment, he didn’t get to use the snowblower.

Now the sun is out and it’s reflecting off the snow and it’s perfectly lovely. Cold, but lovely. It took forever for our little cottage to heat up this morning.

I sat in my new chair and read for a couple of hours this morning. Don brought coffee to me. (Yes, I know I’m lucky.) I had the throw wrapped around me and we kept the blinds shut and the shades down for a long time and enjoyed our little cocoon. Now I’m upstairs in the office, writing to you, while Don plays his guitar downstairs.

If only we could stay in our cocoon and escape the news of the day, of the month, of the year. Well, we could, of course, and we can certainly delay it for a while, but in the end, we must be responsible citizens and take action. And every day, more action is needed, until I forget what I’ve done and what I have yet to do, between all the petition-signing, phone calls and research.

I need to start making lists.

A quote from my favorite wise man, William Shakespeare, seems apt:

I think our country sinks beneath the yoke.
It weeps, it bleeds and each new day a gash
is added to her wounds.

Macbeth/spoken by Malcolm in Act 4, Scene 3

Let’s change the subject. I’m finishing up a book that I will review on the other blog later today, Unpunished by Lisa Black. Then I will start A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.

What are you reading? What have you just read? What do you recommend?

And don’t forget: What does FIC stand for?

Thanks for sharing.

Happy Wednesday.

What to Write On This Day?

January 20, 2017 at 10:25 am by Claudia

I was going to simply post a photo of Barack Obama today, but I worried about using someone’s photo without their permission. I see far too much of that in blogland; grabbing photos and graphics from Pinterest or elsewhere online, with no attribution and seemingly no sense that it isn’t right to use someone else’s creation without permission.

So I decided not to do that. Then I thought that I simply wouldn’t post because this day is a dark day for me and for the majority of Americans (by 3 million votes) who do not want that man in office. I am not watching the television. I am not reading anything about the events unfolding in Washington, DC.

But then I thought you might want a wee distraction.

So. Don is going to Washington DC in the wee hours of Saturday morning. He managed to get a space on a bus leaving at 4 a.m. I’m relieved that he’s on a bus because I worried about the mechanics of driving, finding a place to park, finding a way into the city. I briefly considered chucking it all and going with him, but I feel I should be here.

May I say how proud I am of this man? He’s marching for women, for our nephew, for the equal rights of all, for everything we hold dear. It will be stimulating and inspiring and exhausting – all of that and more. So when I arrive home tomorrow, Don will be in Washington. I won’t see him until the early hours of Sunday, I imagine.

The Ghostlight Project was powerful. That is Darko speaking to all of us in the photo. We gathered in the lower lobby of the theater, actors, theater staff and a host of people who love the arts. There were songs sung, quotes from Shakespeare, speeches by the managing director and the artistic director. Since we had just heard that The Demagogue-in-Chief wants to cut the funds for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, we were reeling. Isn’t that what dictators and fascists do? Cut any support for the arts, for theater, for music, for dance, for literature, for the visual arts, for public television and public radio? They have to. Because artists of all kinds speak up, speak out, save our souls, give us beauty, make us think, and challenge those in power. They are threatening to demagogues because they speak truth to power.

Do you know how many people I know and love who work in the theater? Who depend on the theater for their employment, their living expenses? (Including my husband and me.) This leaves me shaken to my core.

There were forms for us to fill out. Here I am with mine:

I will keep fighting.

Everything we hold dear, everything that has changed and improved, all the gains we have made, are in danger.

I will miss the Obamas.

As of noon, I will no longer have a President.

Tonight is Opening Night. I will spend the day reading and packing some of my things. I’m proud, as always, to be a part of Hartford Stage and the brilliant work they do. I’m proud of this production of The Comedy of Errors. This is what we do. We bring light and sadness and humor and thoughtful, considered work to our audiences. This particular production has benefitted from a grant from the NEA.

We need the Arts. A society without them will quickly collapse.

Tired, But Still Going

January 14, 2017 at 10:03 am by Claudia

I’m tired. The schedule here has changed as we’ve moved into afternoon rehearsals and evening performances. So I’ve been a bit thrown off in terms of my sleep. It’s a wee bit harder to adjust to that kind of change nowadays. You know how it is; you come home, you have to wind down, you read a bit, maybe take a bath, and by the time you’re ready to turn in it’s more than two hours past your normal bedtime. Plus, the woman next door, who is an actress in the play, tends to go out with cast members every night after the show and I can hear her when she comes back to her apartment. That doesn’t help.

I well remember doing that very same thing, however, when I was younger. I routinely went out after an acting performance with my fellow cast mates. It’s a way to wind down, to talk about the show and how it’s going, to get to know each other. So I understand. I just don’t do it anymore and I need to sleep! (Looking forward to my bed and bedmate back home at the cottage. One more week.)

The show is going very well. There is still work to be done, of course, but the audiences are really enjoying it. Lots and lots of laughs last night. It’s a fast-paced production – 90 minutes in length, with no intermission – and the time just flies by.

This is what I’m gazing upon at the moment. I love this quilt and I don’t see it very often. So I’m trying to enjoy this time when I have lots of wall space on which to hang my quilts because they make me smile.

I have to run to the CVS this morning for a few things – it only stays open until noon on Saturdays. I’m hoping to get by without grocery shopping this week. I leave a week from today and I’m trying to use up all the perishable food I have on hand.

Because, you know, I have to pack all this STUFF again on Friday/Saturday and haul it all home.

Thanks for sharing happy things yesterday. I loved your lists.

Happy Saturday.

Two Questions For You

What to Write On This Day?

Tired, But Still Going

claudiahillsparks

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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