Dame Scout thanks you for all the birthday greetings. She considered it a sort of spa day: sleep, eat, sleep and sleep again, eat, with lots of loving from the parents who also sang Happy Birthday to her, then a plate of treats, then sleep.
Amazing that our little girl is 17!
I’ve been working with the script for Romeo and Juliet.
On my new desk, in my little office space, I might add! There’s lots of room to spread out and some privacy. (Though this cottage is so small, I can have a conversation with Don when he is downstairs in the living room without raising my voice. Yikes.)
My goal when I start to analyze the script, the meter, the words, and the meaning of those words is to tackle an act a day. Shakespeare’s plays consist of five acts. I worked on Act One on Sunday. Act Two was finished yesterday. Today will be devoted to Act Three.
I have a lot of reference books – all of which will go along with me to Hartford. I often compare different editions of the plays because the editors’ notes vary. The big volume you see is my Riverside Shakespeare. The paperback is the Arden Shakespeare, which I already had on hand from a previous production of Romeo and Juliet. (I’ve coached it twice before; both times at the Old Globe – once with a young Neil Patrick Harris as Romeo, by the way.)
I have no idea what Darko plans to do with this production, but I know it will be stunning and exciting, simply because I’ve worked with him so many times and have witnessed his brilliance over and over again. I’ve worked with at least three of the actors before and I like them very much. But as we all know, I often encounter an actor who says I look familiar and, after some discussion, we realize that we’ve worked together before.
It happened again when I worked on that musical version of The Seagull a couple of months ago. I’d coached one of the actors at the Old Globe. He remembered me. Sadly, I didn’t remember him. Not because of anything to do with his talent – he’s a wonderful actor – simply because I’ve coached so many productions and worked with hundreds and hundreds of actors over 30 or so years. That’s not even counting the students I have taught and coached.
I used to pride myself on the fact that I never forgot a name or a face. Of course, I was younger then and that has something to do with it, but it’s also a simple case of numbers. The more people I work with, the more people I have to keep sorted in the filing system that is my brain.
The files are spilling out of the drawers, I’m afraid.
Decor8, a hugely popular site run by Holly Becker (who also teaches courses on blogging) has a great post today entitled, “Will Blogs Survive 2016?” I love what she has to say about blogging, and the risks we run when we do too many sponsored posts, have too many ads, or lose the essence of what drew us to blogging in the first place. You might find it very interesting.
I love Instagram, but it can never be anything other than a quick picture and update. And that’s fine, sometimes that’s exactly what I’m in the mood for. Blogging is about depth, about storytelling, about the conversation that goes on between author and reader.
I’m never entirely comfortable with ads, but I need them. Even though they bring in only a very small amount of money, they support the cost of running this blog. And they help pay for a bill or two along the way, which is very welcome. But the essence of this blog will always be personal content with the rare, and I mean rare, sponsored post.
I promise.
Happy Tuesday.
With regard to blogging in today’s world – so agree with your post today. Have a good day working in your new office space.
Thank you, Regina Anne! I must say, I really appreciate having it, after so many years without!
Ahhh, it must be a joy to work in your new space Claudia. It looks wonderful. Glad Dame Scout had a nice birthday.
Yes, I’m curious to see how blogs fare…I don’t have one, but many I used to read have gone away, or folks have just stopped posting. I think some go to Facebook, but I tend to find that annoying. I did read a blog yesterday (one that had been quiet for 9 months) saying that she thought people were beginning to come back to blogging. I certainly hope so.
Thank you for your daily posts. I enjoy them so much.
I do, too, Vera. Blogging – to me – is still the best thing.
I enjoyed seeing your office space in use today Claudia. How nice it must be to have a place to spread out. I’ll have to read the article that you mentioned about blogging. I have noticed with my blog that many people are not commenting anymore. Maybe that’s because my content isn’t very interesting. I have no idea. I do know that I’ve made some lovely friends through the blogging world and I’d be happy if they were the only ones that ever read it! Have a lovely day.
Blessings, Betsy
I think most blogs have seen less comments, Betsy – so don’t take it personally! I certainly used to get a lot more comments than I do now. Partly, I think, it’s due to competing social media; Facebook, instagram, pinterest. And also due to the fact that are just so many more blogs out there! xo
Your new office space feels down right roomy Claudia!! How wonderful. I’m so glad Scout had a good birthday. I got to spend a little time with my Scout and snuggle some. She is such a sweet little girl. Charlie seems to be doing OK, but frailer after his stay at the Vets. I’m having a good resting day after taking my Mom to the overwhelming WalMart yesterday. I will read the post about blogging. I find I am pretty content with the blogs I follow now and all are personal and friendly. As I like them.
hugs,
Linda
Me too. If they lose the personal aspect, I’m usually out of there.
Scout doesn’t do so well when she’s had to stay at the Vets, either. Charlie just might need some time to recover and know that you’re home now and you’re not going away. xo
The office is amazing! Isn’t it great to have space to spread out and not have to put things away to have dinner? We find the same thing now that we have dedicated space for our art and activities, instead of the kitchen table. So much nicer.
A very belated but sincere Happy Birthday to Scout. Sounds like her day was just what a birthday should be!
It was, given the fact that she doesn’t have a whole lot of energy these days. She was loved and petted and got extra treats!
I like your blog, Claudia, because you are honest and insightful. I understand about the ads, and also understand why some bloggers use this forum to sell their goods. But at least I am able to make the choice of which blogs to follow. Yours is among my favorites. Good plan to progress through Romeo and Juliet!
I certainly understand using it sell their goods. After all, I show my latest Etsy creations on the blog because I know a lot of people will see them that way. I think the problem lies when that is the only thing that is featured on a blog. Then, it sort of becomes a website, not a blog. Each has its place, that’s for sure.
Your office space looks like such a peaceful place in which to work. My winter project for this year is to de-clutter & spruce up my office and bookshelves…you are an inspiration!
I enjoy your blog posts very much and usually read them with a cuppa coffee in hand.
Today is a day where I find myself wanting another cup of coffee! But I’ve had my limit for the day. Thank you for your kind words, Debbie.
Yes, I’ve had to give up some blogs I’d enjoyed reading because I couldn’t read for being interrupted with ads…the ones with ‘voice’ like a mini video commercial being the most annoying and having to constantly turn the volume off my computer just so I could read a post. I think as a reader, maybe it has to do with something uncomfortable about being/feeling obligated, I dunno. (Also, perhaps readers got a little ‘spoiled’ from earlier days of blogging when ads were scarce or there at all, anywhere.)
But I’ve come to understand that the ads very much help the blog owner, so I also feel it’s the least I can do, to try to support…although I am also bugged when a blog owner does a sponsored post and doesn’t start off at the beginning by telling me (I’m all for that sort of post [it can be informative and helpful to reader as well as blog owner] but be up front about it; I don’t want to read a line in fine print at the end that it was sponsored…now, why is that, though..??..except to maybe reading and feeling duped that I’m not hearing my blog owner’s usual voice but instead his/her voice hawking a product…?…I don’t know if I’ve really attempted to sort out my feelings on this subject, and I need to!!).
One thing that I encountered, too, was a blog whose blog owner was pretty much finished with her blog…I think she was ‘way more tuned into her Facebook page and kept trying to get us readers to drift over to that, but I refuse to do Facebook so far…and what I mean by ‘finished’ is that I think it had become burdensome to her, she was bored with it, couldn’t come up with any new content at her own admission…but then she discovered she could do all the ads and make money (money being a fave subject, lack thereof, a big focus on frugality but also a weakness for spending…and, I mean, I could relate; I’m much the same way!), so, it was repeat content then, borrowing from previous posts, nothing new to read and ads, ads, ads. Maybe I felt somehow I was being taken advantage of; I’m not sure! But it didn’t feel ‘right’.
Change subject: It’s raining; POURING. The wet has finally arrived in SoCalif. I’m checking drains, ran out to feed the feral kitties in a slight lull; birds are trying to eat wet seed, poor little things. I’m annoyed because I had a delivery arranged to my house which didn’t require a signature…have been looking for it to arrive since Saturday…and for some unexplained reason because I wasn’t home yesterday (although I swung by the house THREE times to see if it was on the porch), they took it to the post office, so now I have to go out in the rain and try to get to the bottom of that situation and see if I can lift it (it’s heavy, which is why I wanted it delivered to my street address…so frustrating…).
I love hearing about your work; I don’t understand exactly what you do because I’m theater-clueless/acting-clueless but it seems like such a fascinating career and dovetails so nicely with what Don does for a living…you both understand the demands of each other’s jobs and also each’s intricacies.
I’m not a fan of repeat content, though I suppose there’s nothing new under the sun. But the sort I’m talking about are the ‘best of 2015’ posts or the ones where the blogger says that they’re re-running a certain post. I have no interest in that. I don’t even have interest in the ‘best of’ posts – presumably, if I’m reading the blog, I’ve already read the posts and my idea of ‘best of’ might be very different than someone else’s. But, of course, this is just my pet peeve. Lot of readers love those posts.
Try as I might, I don’t get where a Facebook page would be remotely close to a blog post. I have a FB page for this blog, but half the time I don’t post there and when I do, it’s usually to highlight something I’ve posted on the blog – sort of a ‘heads up.’
If you put the proverbial “gun to my head” I would say I do not like adds on blogs. That being said, I understand hawking your own products or “stuff” for sale on your own blog. no problem. I find objectionable, ( not corrected usage I know) reading a blog with toe nail fungus and Hanes underwear adds on the side. Just my two cent. Hope Scout enjoyed yesterday I know she was spoiled as she should be.
Most bloggers that have ads don’t have a lot of control over what ads show. And, a lot of ads that show at any given time – not all, by any means – populate according to the reader’s browsing history. So, for example, I often see a lot of ads for eBay on my blog. That’s because I’ve been on eBay a lot in the last month. Or if I google some product, it may show up in an ad a few days later. You may see other ads than I would, even though we both would be visiting the same blog, because of your browsing history. And so it goes.
I remember when husband and I shared a computer…at Christmas time keeping a secret was difficult. Everything I googled was followed by a pop up add for weeks on the computer no matter what site you were on!
Exactly. The same thing happens with blog ads!
I am glad to know that Scout had a great birthday. What a dear girl she is. I have been thinking quite a bit about my blog and how it has become an extension of me. I find the competition between bloggers tiring. I am exhausted by the constant repainting and buying new furniture and the pop up ads. The older I get, and the passing of all the elders in my life, has forced me to view life in a much different way. The blogs I enjoy reading now are about living life fully and following one’s own path. I am bored by pretenses. The other day I went to the store with my hair pulled back in a pony, wearing my college ball cap and no make~up. That’s something I did not do in the past. It felt so good to shift the focus from myself to others. I do hope you continue to blog. I don’t mind the ads because they are not intrusive. I just like to “hear” the sound of your voice on your page.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Oh, I find it very tiring, Susan. I agree. The blogs that constantly talk about the same thing with no variety hold no interest for me. I want (an overused word lately) to see the authentic person – the real person, warts and all. xo
Hi Claudia,
I hope you continue to write for a long time. Your blog is undoubtedly my favorite, so I always save it for last. It’s such a treat every morning to see what’s going on with you and your family. Living in a big city on the West Coast all my life, it’s a pleasure to see small town living in your sweet cottage. Thank you for being so real and taking the time and effort to share your life with us.
Oh, thank you for your kind thoughts about the blog, Roneta. I so appreciate them!
Claudia, I can’t believe your dog is seventeen. Bless her heart. You do keep busy..I bet you have met some great actors and actresses. You probably get all those Shakespeare questions on Jeopardy. :):) Some make my head spin. Blessings to you , Don and Scout., xoxo,Susie
Most of them, and what I don’t get, Don does! We’ve both done tons Shakespeare. xo
Please give Scout my belated birthday greetings! I was a bit under the weather Sunday night and yesterday and my husband was out of town for work so I slept and rested and forgot to wish Scout happy birthday.
I totally understand the not remembering someone due to the sheer numbers of people that you have worked with through the years. I have run into the same thing with what I used to do as a sales trainer. I always feel kind of bad but I figure a teacher/ trainer/ coach has many more students than the student has teachers, etc. Plus being that the teacher is normally older they have more years to remember than the student. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it! LOL!
I’m interested to read the post about blogging. There are so many blogs that have ads between every 2 sentences and seem to consist of mostly sponsored posts. It gets very cumbersome to read, especially from my phone, so I just move on. The other problem is that because of all the ads, their blog takes forever to load. Click and I move on.
I find the same to be true on so many of the pins on Pinterest. They lead to a blog post that is absolutely saturated with ads. Again I delete and go on my way. I fully understand needing a blog to support itself and to compensate the blogger for their time but when I feel like it’s one big pitch I don’t have the time. I’m in marketing as so I understand SEO and analytics but I also understand that people need value for their time or they move on.
Claudia, please know I truly enjoy your blog and consider it one of the blessings of my day.
Perfect way to put it, Kim. They need value for their time. Thank you for that thought!
And Scout thanks you for the birthday greetings!
I imagine you feel so much more relaxed working in your new space…Enjoy!
I do. Thank you, Nancy!
I love bloggers who are as honest as they can be safely! I’m old enough to not be surprised by much anymore! What surprises me is how like we all are.
I love your writing. You have such a good “writing voice”, (that’s not a surprise with your career!), and if there’s an ad or two, I’ll likely not notice it much . I love hearing about your love for your Scout, for your husband, your job, your books, and your beloved cottage.
I love hearing about your (so very interesting to me!) career, and the places you go. I love to hear you describe how you make that little place “yours” for the time you’ll be there, with your quilt or a little rug, and some fresh flowers! And I love hearing how you love to come home to Don and Scout again.
I could say so much more–but then I’d be the one writing a post! :)
Thank you so much for your kind words! They are much appreciated.
Oh–I needed to say, I no longer have a blog or site!