Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 1515 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

This and That

April 28, 2012 at 7:59 pm by Claudia

Thought I’d share some shots from my walks around Hartford:

Hartford is the home of many insurance companies, including Travelers. Recognize their red umbrella?

This Alexander Calder sculpture is next to the Atheneum.

Love the deer. Or is it a stag?

An angel atop the arch in Bushnell Park.

I love this building with the beautiful inlaid tiles next to and between the windows.

And these in the more modern extension that’s been added on to the building in the previous photo.

It’s been a good week, but a stressful one. We’re in that part of rehearsal where everyone is a little tense, trying to make sure they know all their lines as we put the whole play together. I’m taking tomorrow and Monday off and Don is picking me up in the morning. I’ll be glad to get home for a couple of days, though I’m sure I’ll be mowing and cleaning much of the time! I miss my little cottage, my husband and my doggies. I need to be with them.

I’ve been eating too much sugar – rehearsal halls are notorious for sweets. I need to cut back as I’m sure I’ve gained weight. But tonight….I’m treating myself to a Drumstick. I need some comfort food. Hey, it’s been a tough week and I’m only human!

Playing with banners. I’ve uploaded 6 different banners this morning while waiting for Don!

A Request

April 27, 2012 at 8:16 am by Claudia

A look at the sky as I walked home the other evening. That’s the Capital Dome off to the left. I love moody skies – that’s what I call them. Clouds swirling, light peeking through, ever-changing; a reminder of the vastness beyond our little world. It helps to get me ‘right-sized.’ It’s so easy to get so wrapped up in the minutia of my life, forgetting that there is a world out there beyond my little world.

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on…”

Prospero, The Tempest

I have some friends that I’ve known since my very young years. I’ve known Debbie since we were in kindergarden. We grew up about a block and a half from each other and spent countless hours together- playing, riding bikes, studying. Her mom was our Girl Scout Troupe Leader. I knew every inch of her house and she knew every inch of mine. When we were in high school, Debbie’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Eventually, decades later, it would come back and take her life.

Debbie has 2 sisters. Her older sister, Karen, fought cancer for many years and died last year. Debbie has been waging her own battle with this dreadful disease for over 7 years. I just received an update from her Care Pages site. After being in remission for a few years, it has come back. It’s the same cancer (non-Hodgkins Lymphoma) that took my brother’s life. All this as she is preparing to welcome her second grandchild. And as is always the case with Debbie, she is more concerned for her pregnant daughter than she is for herself.

There is a tie, a link, that binds us to everyone we have ever met. Debbie and I grew up together and were shaped by many of the same influences. I feel this cord that connects us stretching across the miles to Michigan, where she lives. She is so brave, so full of grace, despite what she is facing. I cannot get her out of my mind and that’s a good thing.

If you have a moment, please send some healing thoughts Debbie’s way. Surely our thoughts, our energy, focused and directed to one in need have a power we cannot even begin to comprehend.

Have a wonderful Friday.

Life On the Road

April 26, 2012 at 8:32 am by Claudia

Day 20 of hotel living, albeit a suite.

The view from my current perch on the sofa. I move back and forth between the sofa and the chair. Neither are back-friendly. After a period of feeling achy in one, I move to the other, ever hopeful that somehow it will have magically become more comfortable.

Right now, as I write this, I’m listening to the slamming of doors out in the corridor. Hotel room doors are loud.

I have a stack of NY Times Crossword Puzzles in that pile on the left. I recently subscribed to them online. They keep my brain sharp.

We went to Target and, you guessed it, Trader Joe’s on our day off. I forked out for new slippers as my old ones were full of holes.

The bedroom. I often write notes to the cleaning crew here telling them not to change the sheets. It seems like such a waste of resources and time for them to change the sheets every day. I make the bed on those days and leave a note on the duvet. Sometimes I just hang the Privacy tag on the doorknob and save them from having to clean the room. Last night, I broke a glass and had to have someone come up and vacuum up the mess. I wanted to grab the vacuum and do it myself. Oh right, this isn’t my home and that wasn’t my vacuum.

Cluttery desk. Books to read, stapler, various thingies needed for my work. Chargers. Sunglasses. My trusty canvas bag with script, umbrella and wallet.

Morning view outside the living room window.

Must have Peets French Roast Coffee. Must.

I’ve been crocheting flowers for the garlands I plan to sell in the Etsy Shop. But it’s slow going. I’m usually so tired at night that I can’t even contemplate crocheting.

The cable channels choices are terrible. If I constantly wanted to watch ESPN, I’d be in heaven. Last night, thank goodness, Modern Family was on. One of my former students, Abraham Higginbotham, is a producer and writer on MF. Then I watched The B in Apartment 23, which is not my cup of tea, but another former student, Ray Ford, has a recurring role in it and I’m thrilled for him. (They’re both earning more money than I am.)

It’s a nice room as hotel rooms go. But it’s still a hotel room.

Tonight I’m going to watch a performance of Bell, Book and Candle which is currently running at the theater. Two of my friends are in it and it will be fun to see them again. I was supposed to go last week but then we had the Riley emergency and I wanted to stay close to my phone.

Happy Thursday.

This and That

A Request

Life On the Road

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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