Back to work…

Coming back into the office after a week away is always an eye-opener.  My office is a mess.  I have boxes of files everywhere, waiting for me to move the boxes of files that I have already closed out into the garage, so I can move the boxes on my floor out to where the current boxes live.  On a daily basis, I don’t really notice it.  Every now and again I do get to feeling a bit claustrophobic…but all I can do right now is take a deep breath and let it go.  It is too hot to go out to the garage at work.  Oh, well. Maybe it will cool off for a day and I can make it better…

Home again, home again…

Bags are still packed, full of dirty clothes; the mail is piled up on the kitchen counter; the weeds have taken over all the gardens…sure sign of the return from a week’s vacation.  We managed to make the bed before we fell into it…a good sleep, the first night home in our own bed with the cats coming and going.  We are watching some Brazilian series called Mandrake to try to postpone the inevitable…oh, well, it was worth it…a whole week away in paradise.  I’m hoping to squeeze in a manicure before the day ends…I can’t cut my own fingernails and they are getting out of control.

Son is a baker.  He took a break and is now looking for work.  He got a call from a swanky inn in a resort town in Maine and had his stage (that’s what they call your audition in the baking world, you have to bake).  They offered him the job of head baker and are sending him a contract and terms sheet.  Because they want him to start right away, they are offering temporary housing until he can find something.  He hasn’t said yes, he is putting together a plus/minus list…it is nothing he had even thought about in terms of career, but could offer limitless possibilities.  I will be happy whether or not he takes it; it affirms that he can do what he wants and that’s a good thing.  Daughter discovered this a long time ago, it made me equally happy.  I guess I’m a happy woman.

All right, enough stalling…off to unpack and do laundry.  The only good news is that I have another week in paradise coming up in August…ahhhhhh…

I love vacation…

Our week has started off beautifully.  We picked up the b-i-l and s-i-l at the airport Saturday (they flew New Zealand to LA to New Orleans to Mexico City to Dulles to Maine, with a few days here and there before arriving in Maine)…it is always so good to see them and to listen to her wonderful New Zealand accent.  All is well at the house, m-i-l and f-i-l are well and we have settled into the gloomy grayness of the Maine coast with our books and the internet.  Lots of good food, good wine and good company.  How better to spend a week’s vacation?  Ahhhhhhh…..

What a week…

My theater group chose the one-act play I directed, When Shakespeare’s Ladies Meet, to represent us at our annual drama festival last weekend.  Hubby was working in TX, son was riding his bike up mountains in Vermont, so I took advantage and spent the whole festival weekend (Friday night through Sunday night) in a beautiful little town in Western Massachusetts…shared a room with one of the festival stage managers.  I saw 12 of the 13 plays (I missed the one after ours on Sunday), was present for all the adjudications and workshops and felt so inspired and part of the “in crowd.”

Our show was scheduled to perform as the first entry of the Sunday session, 11am curtain.  The Ladies started arriving around 8:30, a gray, drizzly morning.  Off to the dressing room for hair and make-up, then costumes, with me flitting back and forth from dressing room to backstage.  Our set was minimal, a couple of flower-draped trellises, a table and chairs, a chaise and phony trees and flower-draped plant stands.  We had 10 minutes to set it up (we only used about 4), then the house lights dimmed, the Emcee took the stage and we were off!  After we set the set, I raced around the theater, only to be turned away at the door.  I raced back around and watched the show from the downstage wings.  They were wonderful…they looked great, they sounded great and the audience loved them.  YES!  Our adjudication was painless and even very flattering for the most part.  Whew.  Then on to the awards ceremony.  The whole cast and crew clustered in the theater to hear our names announced EIGHT TIMES!  Eight nominations…totally unexpected for our little “David” to swim with the “Goliaths”!  We were nominated for Best Production, Best Supporting Actress, Best Set Design, Best Sound Design, Best Costumes, Best Make-up, Best Director and Best Ensemble…AND WE WON BEST ENSEMBLE!  Unbelievable.

Needless to say, it was a wonderful weekend and I am still aglow.  The Ladies ROCKED (including Ed [sound]and Dave [stage manager] and David [lights] as honorary Ladies).

The ABCs and XYZs of me…

OK, fine…since everyone else is doing it…..

Accent: Accent? I’m originally from SoCal, I have no accent.

Bra size: 38C

Chore I hate: Cleaning!

Dad’s name: Albert Edward

Essential make-up: Weekdays, foundation, eyeliner, mascara

Favorite perfume: At the moment, LaLaLily or Vanilla Body Mist

Gold or Silver: I like both

Hometown: born in Hemet, CA; live in Metrowest Boston

Interesting fact: I was an extra in a movie starring Raquel Welch and James Coco.

Job title: Officially, paralegal….I call myself a legal assistant.

Kids: K, 28, L, married to K, 28 and A, 25.

Living arrangements: At the moment, P (part-time, when he’s not on the road, which he is about to do again), A (temporarily), me, two cats and a house full of plants!

Mom’s Birthplace: South Pasadena, CA

Number of apples eaten in last week: 0

Overnight hospital stays: Benign tumors, right breast (surgical biopsy), 21; benign tumor, outside of uterus, laparotomy, 27; Childbirth (1 night each) 29 and 32; lumbar laminectomy, 50

Phobia: Not really phobias, but fears = Heights. Violent scenes in movies

Question you ask yourself a lot: Why did I come in here?

Religious affiliation: Born and raised Episcopalian; if I went to a church, probably UCC

Siblings: Three sisters

Time I wake up: Most days between 4:30 and 5:30 am.

Unnatural hair color: Natural blonde with blonde highlights to help hide the gray

Vegetable I refuse to eat: Lima beans (but since I haven’t tasted them since I was a child and was forced to eat them, I don’t know if I still don’t like them); beets (although last year we grew lots of beets and I learned that roasted beets are quite tasty)

Worst habit: PROCRASTINATION!!!!!

X-rays: Teeth. Broken foot

Yummy food I make: Tacos, enchiladas, pot roast

Zodiac sign: Pisces