Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Heavens, it’s taking me so long to recover from the trip! I didn’t sleep well the night before last, waking up at 4 am, so I barely functioned yesterday. I got more sleep last night, so I feel better – foggy, but better. The drive on the Garden State Parkway is insane. Huge backups for no reason. It takes forever. Once I got on the Thruway in NY, it was smooth sailing.

I was tired when I got home, but the first thing I saw was a black swallowtail butterfly flitting around the garden. Wasn’t that a lovely welcome? Better than the welcome from my husband, who fell asleep on the porch glider and didn’t even hear me drive in! I was in and out of the house calling for him, and starting to get worried, and then I found him on the porch where he had been sitting, waiting for me. Sleep overtook him.

The theater building and complex are fabulous and so well planned. Filled with light. It was renovated not that long ago. Red Bank is a pretty little town on the Navesink river, not far from the Atlantic Ocean. I did walk around a bit on Friday. There were antique shops right by the theater, but they were disappointing. Pretty junky. But the view of the river is beautiful and when Hurricane Rita finally passed us, I could see the harbor and all the boats.

It felt good to be coaching again, and not via Zoom, but in person, face-to-face. There’s no comparison. I go back in a little less than 2 weeks.

Ruby and Dexter, dressed for a road trip.

Blythes are good companions, but this little girl is sort of the perfect size. Same body size as a Blythe, but obviously, a smaller head.

This is how they traveled. Remember this basket from my friends at Play From Your Heart that I got at the Blythe convention? It comes with a little mattress and pillow.

Don took this photo.

I think everyone should have a doll as a traveling companion!

I missed the others, though, and was glad to see them again.

I am telling you: they keep me sane in the midst of the horrors and crimes and abuse from this administration. Play. Whatever your preferred method of playing and creating is, go for it. Do everything you can to find pockets of peace and joy. We are meant to play, and that shouldn’t stop just because we’re adults. Or old ladies, in my case.

Love to you all.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Hello!

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I’m sorry I couldn’t post before now. It’s been an interesting week here, working at a pace that I haven’t experienced for a year and a half. And the coaching itself is always intense. I’m heading home later today, after three more sessions this morning.

The drive down here from NY involved the Garden State Parkway, and that’s never a pleasant experience. I liken it to doing the luge in the Olympics – once you’re in the chute, you can’t stop. It’s even worse the further south you go. But I made it. The apartment I’ve been staying in is nice, but it’s on a busy street, so I have to keep the A/C on high to deaden the sounds of traffic. And I’ve nicknamed my upstairs neighbor “Thumper” because he or she or they walks around the apartment endlessly – and loudly.

These are the things I don’t miss about apartment living.

But the space itself is very nice. Although, as is standard in theater housing, the sofa is old and has no back support. You sink into it and can’t get up.  I had to rig up something involving pillows and my heating pad on a chair that is also uncomfortable. I can’t wait to get back to my little chair in the den.

The cast and staff are lovely and it’s been very nice working with them this week.

I haven’t had any spare time to do anything other than work and we’ve also been dealing with the effects of Hurricane Erin – tons of rain, and wind.

My traveling companions on the porch, bracing themselves during the storm.

But it’s been fun to coach again. I love the one-on-one work, those times that we’re sitting around in the break room, chatting and getting to know each other, watching Darko direct, getting to know the staff. The theater is lovely. And theater is such a small world: the Artistic Director, Justin, used to work with a director that both Don and I knew from our days at the Old Globe. He was involved in the production of Pygmalion  that Don was in several years ago. When the director fell ill as the production was transferring to Williamstown, Justin took over. And Justin used to work at the Old Globe, so he knew who I was and that I was married to Don. He’s such a lovely guy.

One of the staff members was the Company Manager when Don did Margaritaville in La Jolla. See? Small world.

Don seems to be very popular here. Ahem.

Campbell Scott (son of George C. Scott and Colleen Dewhurst) is playing Poirot and he is going to be perfect. It’s been an absolute joy working with him this week. Very kind, very smart, and very funny.

So that’s the update. More work this morning, a long drive home, and I’ll get to see my husband by late afternoon.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

 

 

Prepping

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The smaller Rose of Sharon bush has started to bloom. I always forget that the color is deeper on these flowers. So pretty!

We had a very hot and uncomfortable weekend. But today is much cooler and that is very, very welcome.

This will be brief. I’ve been working hard all weekend. Today we have to shop – food for Don, who won’t have a car this week – and food for me to take to NJ. I’ve made lists of things to pack. It’s shocking how much I have to take for 6 days, but it is what it is. And I have to show Don where and how to water while I’m gone.

After years and years of going out of town to work, the appeal of it all is gone. We don’t want to be away from each other. But, if it means work, we do it. So that’s what I’m doing this week. Hopefully, Don will get a chance to do the same thing soon.

This is very short, but I have a lot to do. Thanks for all the supportive comments on my last post. You are the best,

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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