Falling in love with PBS all over again

I am a Sesame Street baby - I grew up on it. On "Electric Company". I loved Mutual of Omaha's "Wild Kingdom" which I always attributed to public televsion, but I doubt seriously if that's where it was showing.

With the new digital conversion, Oregon Public Broadcasting now has 3 TV channels and one radio channel and I LOVE THEM! I have taken to watching "Life in the Canopy", "Nature", "Frontline", "American Masters", "Great Performances"...any animal program...I love the CREATE channel - Cooking with Ming and the Test Kitchen...I love it all. I've seen specials on hippos (little scary) and how to move a rhodedendron...you name it...even "Antique Roadshow" is good, clean fun.

I gotta go to the OPB site and make a contribution. I have gotten so much pleasure in the last few months and I guess I would say that the last Hero I will honor this month (I know I got off the theme a while ago) is Public Broadcasting. May PBS and OPB continue on for many more years.

Insomnia

Usually, after a show, I'm pretty tired for a couple of days with the adrenaline rush and then the slow seeping out of all of that.

Apparently, this was not to be for this show. I'm happy that I'm not exhausted from the show, don't get me wrong. It's just weird. I woke up on Friday all bright eyed and bushy-tailed and EARLY. And Saturday, I woke up at 4:30am and couldn't go back to sleep. Again this morning.

I just want a good night's sleep...

My mind is racing...I guess there is too much going on to get much mental rest.

8 Songs for the Soul

Meme from Magpie Girl's Blog...
"So, what *8 Songs connect you to the Divine? Songs that aren’t classically “religious” or “church music” but create a harmonic bridge to all things holy. Songs that soothe the soul. Songs that encourage and shore you up. Songs that connect you to something bigger and beyond, or more deeply and truly to the here/now. What songs are just Good Medicine? Do tell…and if you have time link us to online versions and youtube videos, just for fun."

Here’s my list of *8 Songs for the Soul:

1. Breaths - Sweet Honey in the Rock
This song just enters through all your pores and settles into the cells in your body, reminding me to feel the connection we all have to everything and that no one is gone - they have just changed their form.

No video is available. For more information, click here.

2. Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
There is just something about this song that calls to me. I feel myself sink into my chair when I hear it. I always cry when I hear it. Good tears.



3. Conviction of the Heart - Kenny Loggins
"One with the earth, with the sky, one with everything in life." Need I say more?


4. Endless Night and He Lives In You - from Disney's "The Lion King"
There is just something stirring about this song. Again, the connection to the spirits of those who have gone before us. Beautiful voices, beautiful music. Stirring.

Endless Night – The Lion King Jason Raize


He Lives In You


5. Bring Him Home - from "Les Miserables"
This prayer from one of my all-time favorite shows is the epitome of Songs that Touch my Soul. I can't even remember a time when this song didn't move me.

Bring Him Home – Colm Wilkinson from 10th anniversary concert


6. Will I? - from "Rent"
This song helps me to remember the humanity of every person I meet, see, talk to. It helps me to remember that everyone wants to be loved, cared for and mourned.



7. Defying Gravity - from "Wicked"
This is an anthem for anyone who has struggled to be themselves while staring in the face of people willing them to be different. Idina Menzel's soaring vocals lift my spirits in the darkest of times.



8. The Eagle and the Hawk - John Denver (or any of his songs from the mid-1970s)
This song has been a part of me since I was 6 years old. There is something about his soaring voice evoking the soaring of the eagle and hawk that makes my own soul soar. I can't hear this song without feeling like there is some greater power in the universe.

To be a Groupie or Not to Be...

There's a part of me that is really mad at myself for not going to see "Rent" one more time while it is in town. Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp's farewell performances in the show as Roger and Mark. There is this part of me that is screaming to go and sit and let the show wash over me like I have so many times in the past.

But I'm not going to. I'm so tired. I know if I went, I would be glad, but I just can't bring myself to do it. The last month has been so exhausting, physically, emotionally.

And I think I like leaving it where it is - a performance I could be proud of. It was emotional and satisfying and I feel like I had a breakthrough in the performance, emotionally. I wasn't afraid of what anyone would think if I just put my soul into the characters.

So, is this because I'm older and just don't need to do that kind of crazy thing - seeing the show 3-4 times in a week or is it just bad timing and I will regret it later? I think it is bad timing, but I don't think I will regret not going. I'm trying to let go of regrets. "Forget regret or life is yours to miss. No other road. No other way. No day but today."

Memory of Art...

I was looking for the cards that my team and I used for "La Vie Boheme" in "Rent". If you haven't seen the show, the song is an energetic, fast paced song that lists bunches of pop culture references that are impossible to interpret, particularly at that pace. The first year we interpreted the show, 1998, we tried to do it and it was a failure. The Deaf audience cocked their heads to the side and looked at us with puzzled expressions. The song had no impact that way. In 2001, we stole the idea from Bob Dylan/INXS/local interpreter Tim Bigelow and made cards. The audience LOVED IT!! We used them again in 2004 and again last night, although last night, we had a Special Guest Star who helped us manage the cards. (Thanks, KH!!)

Anyway, in my search for the cards (actually, I had found them but thought I was missing some - they were just out of order), I found a collage that I did on September 10, 2001. It was bizarre because I did it at a friend's house and we both ended up picking things that were somewhat unusual for us. Hers included a big street sign from Broadway and some other cross street and lots of travel influence. Mine had a distinct middle eastern flavor with the colors and some of the photos. And I also included a bunch of pictures from "Rent".

It was my first real attempt at collage and I LOVED the process. I have only done it once more with my friends in California. I hope to get that one sent up here and to do another sometimes soon. I am interested in doing some of the Full Moon Dreamboards discussed on Starshyne Productions blog.

Anyway, here are some pics from the collage. I'm still struggling with my camera (well, with my photography skills, not the camera's fault).







This says, "In the end, it isn't so much that we're in the story, but that the story is in us." I love that.

Wreck This Journal: Week 4

Well, I had an interesting week of trying to wreck and being pulled in a million directions. I made progress, but I am nowhere near where I thought I would be...

I am excited about mailing the journal to myself, but I hate to let it leave my hands...I think I'm just going to have to do it.

Anyway, I had some fun this week. The burn was a little more out of control than I would have wanted, but that is what this is all about, right? Exploring doing things differently - giving permission to make a mess and do whatever we feel like to this crazy book.

I am finding that I know a lot of people who really need this book. My nephew will be getting a copy soon and a friend and her son who are going through some stuff - I think it will be a fun summer activity for them to do together. The Amazon shipment is on its way! :)

The other thing to know is that I am still learning how to use my camera and today, I was not having good luck. I need to read some information about amateur digital photography. My camera has this weird thing where the only setting that doesn't seem to have automatic flash is the one that doesn't focus well. What's that about?

Anyway, I'm posting lousy pictures and all and will be setting about trying to get some better photos ASAP.

I'm happy with the progress I am making on the outside of the journal...but some of the glitter glue came off. Will have to find something else to help me complete it. I think the cover will continue to be a work in progress.






I didn't leave the page blank...I saw this postcard and I knew it had to get in this journal.

The burn started calmly and then got a little out of control. I burned a hole through three pages and there was a lot of ash, which I enjoyed smearing all over the page.



This was my grocery list...the picture is too blurry...it was the flash vs. focus problem I was talking about. :(

I started to color the page, but I got bored. The crayons weren't working for me today. I think I need something messier. :)



The page says, "Pens do it better." The crayon scribbling just wasn't satisfying. The pen actually made a hole and some indentations through the page. Much more wickedly delicious.


I thought it would be boring to just have a paper-colored ball when I tore out my page, so I colored it first, then crumpled. I took an action (re: blurry) photo of me crumpling the ball. I think I'm going to use it as the second ball in Journal Golf.




I'm also loving how cracked the spine is. Look at this! I'm not holding it open!! It just stays that way now!

Patti Digh is coming to Oregon!!

Patti Digh of 37Days will be in Oregon very soon. For more information, click here.

I've requested information about the Manzanita date and the Portland date. I will keep you all posted here.

Triumph in Overcoming Obstacles Tonight

If you have been reading the blog lately, you know that I have been juggling as fast as I can and dropping some balls...One of the balls that I most worried about, that means the most to me, is the interpreted performance of "Rent" which I finished tonight.

I think the show went very well. It wasn't perfect, but it was as close as a live performance can really get. We hit a lot of the simultaneous signing moments - not all. Many of the songs require some simultaneous work and it can be really, really difficult to pull off. With the office move, the long weekends, long days, I was worried about the show.

The beauty of a show like "Rent" is that I know the show inside out. I never wonder where we are or what will happen next. This reduces the anxiety in some ways, but increases it in others.

Standing out on the platform, looking out at the audience when the performers are singing "Seasons of Love", an iconic piece that is the most well-known music in the entire show, I felt a sense of knowing - I understand this show - not only on the level of knowing it inside out, having the breaths memorized on the CD, having seen it so many times...it is also a sense of knowing how it feels to have everyone dying around you. Being "the witness" to so many lives, so many stories. One of my friends said that it was obvious how much I love this show because it shows through in my interpretation. I hope that is true. I do love this show and I love what it has to say.

Anyway, I feel like I triumphed because I was worried that I wouldn't connect because I have been so tired. I was worried I wouldn't be able to produce enough adrenaline to get through the show. That I wouldn't come up with good translations for "Glory" and "Seasons of Love" in time. That I would have a low energy performance. NONE of these things happened.

It feels good.

Wednesday Check In

Had rehearsal all day today - longer than expected but it was good. Then home to do some more. Then my eye swelled up - allergies, I think. Cold compresses, eye drops to hydrate, lots of water...going to bed soon. I think I just need to check out for a little while.

The show is tomorrow. Wish me well. I love this show, which always makes me more anxious to be sure I do a good job.

The performers are incredible, so I can't imagine not being inspired to perform as close to their energy level as possible.

Anyway, ta ta for now. This girl needs her sleep.

Forget Regret or Life is Yours to Miss

I just saw "RENT" again - it is touring here with Original Broadway Cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp. They were excellent and passionate - after 13 years, I was worried they wouldn't be able to meet my expectations, but they did. And Michael McElroy who plays Collins was BRILLIANT. I have a little crush on him from afar.

Of course I was moved to tears several times during the show. Sometimes I was just engrossed in the show, sometimes I was reliving some painful memories, and sometimes, I was thinking, "Why do I have to keep learning this lesson? Am I making ANY progress?" This question relating to "no day but today", "forget regret or life is yours to miss"...I still have these "Someday I will..." and I should know better.

This reminder came close on the heels of my somewhat traumatic viewing of Disney Pixar's animated movie "Up". Some of the themes are radically different than "RENT" but the basic one, "Live in the now", "Enjoy every moment of your life" is the one I'm talking about.

Why is it so hard for humans to learn this? It is mostly unfortunate that we have the capacity to think about the future - it prevents us from seeing the good and the joy in the ordinary and the everyday things.

I'm so excited to start my telecoaching in July - I think that is going to help me on this journey to enjoy my life right now and not put it off until "Someday".

How do you measure a year in the life?

Happiness is My Choice

Today, I choose to be happy. Today, I choose to think that people have good intentions. Today, I choose to give myself the gift of patience. Today, I thought before I spoke, I tried not to react to things, but to be proactive.

My life is going at about a million miles an hour and my brain can't keep up, so I am hanging on for dear life and trying to make sure I don't run over any pedestrians in the way. So far, so good. Intention and following up with people is really helping me - communicating with them. Thinking things through.

So many things seem hard, but I choose to continue to trudge on, to fall, to pick myself up and dust myself off and perservere. It is going well.

Wish me continued success. :)

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my father and to all the fathers (by blood and by choice) I know or who read here.

I missed my dad a lot today.

If you still have your father, give him an extra big hug today and know that there are lots of us who would give anything for the opportunity. Even those of us who had some issues left with Fathers. Time is a precious thing. Say what you need to say. Do what you need to do. Love who you need to love.

I miss my dad.

15 Books Meme

I saw this on Facebook...I didn't do it there, but I was looking for something to post for today...something short, as the move happened, but there is still a ton to do!! I'm tired, but relieved the worst part is over.

So, as I understood this meme (no idea where it started), the participants are to list 15 books that made a lasting impression on them. That's the part I liked, anyway.

So here are mine - the only order is the order I remembered them in.

1. Helen Keller's Teacher
2. Night by Ellie Wiesel
3. Roots by Alex Haley
4. Ferdinand the Bull
5. Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak
6. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fannie Flagg
7. Letters from the Quilt
8. Trumpet of the Swan - E.B. White
9. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
10. A Separate Peace
11. A Place I've Never Been - David Leavitt
12. And the Band Played On - Randy Shilts
13. White Noise - Don Delillo
14. The Velveteen Rabbit
15. The Witching Hour - Anne Rice
16. The House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder (had to add one of hers...)

I know there are a million more. I chose books that were very memorable for any number of reasons...I should go back and re-read them...maybe I will have a whole different experience with them after that...

"Wreck This Journal" - Week 3

I had a kind of light-weight, but satisfying week of wrecking. I have been pretty exhausted with packing and moving my office, rehearsing for the show and life, so I've decided to go easy on myself this week and will be back to wrecking away next week and over the weekend. :)

I got hung up on "perfection" for a minute and worked on my circle page and my envelope doodles...I don't think adding to the circle page made it any better - I should have left it alone. I was happy with the completion of the doodles, though.
I also bought some glitter glue and added a little to the cover...that made me happy, although I have not finished with the cover or the glitter. :)

Here are the pics:

Blocks - Or Maybe it is Just one Big One?

So, those folks who read this and know me in the 3D world will know a lot of this story, but it is THE STORY of my life, so it bears retelling - especially when it is bringing me closer to something. If you are sick of hearing it, skip this post. If you aren't sick of it, wonder what I'm going to say that is new, or don't remotely know what I'm talking about, read on. :)

So, I tell this as I am listening to "Chess" - "Mountain Duet", a song I loved to sing with Roby in the car. The timing is perfect...



Roby was one of my best friends in high school - he was in the drama department, an actor, and I was a groupie. :) I can finally admit it. There is nothing like sitting in the audience of a live theatrical performance, especially when you know someone who is in it. He was one of those people - charismatic, talented, charming, handsome, popular, controversial.

We got closer and closer as our senior year drew to a close and afterwards, we started hanging out together almost daily. In the fall of 1985, he met a man named Grant who was about 11 years older than he was...I actually went on their first date with them. The plan was that he would kick me under the table when he wanted to talk to Grant alone. The only problem with the plan was that he didn't count on the lack of leg room at Shari's and when Grant accidentally kicked me under the table, hilarity ensued because I trouped dutifully into the bathroom to allow them some "alone time".

They lived together for several months...December 1985 - May 1986, I believe. I will have to check my poetry for historically accuracy check. :) After they had broken up, Roby had a period where he seemed to have the flu...fever, sweats, some nausea. He went to the doctor - the family doctor he had been seeing for years. While there, he decided to ask to be tested for AIDS (this was before the AIDSspeak changed and we called it HIV testing). A few weeks later, his doctor called him AT WORK and told him that he had "been exposed to AIDS" and was sorry but Roby would have to find a different doctor because he didn't treat AIDS victims.

Devestated, he called me and I picked him up from work, drove him back to his apartment and started carving out the path for the rest of my life...That night, he begged me not to tell anyone...he didn't want to be pitied or hated or avoided. At the time, people who tested positive usually already had "full blown AIDS" and died within 2 years of diagnosis. People were denied healthcare, housing, fired from jobs, shunned, etc. There was a lot of fear surrounding AIDS back then. I never told anyone until almost 10 years later, when I had to tell my employer why I was missing work - to take Roby to his medical appointments. Roby had given me permission, so I didn't break my promise - EVER.

So, when I said in my post yesterday that I had a story to tell about my block, this is the story. It shapes and encircles all the other stories of my life. All the decisions that I made. Keeping a secret like that scars you and scars your soul. Even when you do it for all the right reasons. I was 18 years old at the time and I had never been around anyone who was ill, had never known anyone who was "dying", had never been to a memorial service or funeral and I certainly didn't know what to do with the situation in which we found ourselves. By the time I was 30, I had been to too many, interpreted too many, had lost too many of my friends.

Because of the "2 years from diagnosis to death" that I read about in my frantic research about AIDS, HIV, prognosis, etc.(pre-internet, mind you), we decided to live as if every day was the last. We weren't always successful and we had a turbulent relationship at times because I was the only person who knew what was happening to him - I represented the disease to him sometimes and he would push me away until he could pretend to be ok again. I was the carrier of information and he didn't want to know.

I realized right away that my plans for college would have to wait - I was not going anywhere when he might die. I had started to study American Sign Language and loved it. I didn't know what I could do with it, but I started looking at vocational careers where I could train at the local community college, work and stay local to grab up every single day I could with him. Later, I entered the interpreter training program. I was stoked, a career in 2 years, then I could figure out the rest. Once I graduated from the program, I decided to work in K-12 because it was the only thing I felt qualified for (a whole other post) and because I knew that I would have summers off and I could spend time with Roby. Happily, I loved interpreting and got better as time went on. I found theatrical interpreting and I was able to find some fulfillment there that I hadn't expected.

This kind of living lasted for 10 years until the fateful January morning in 1996. When Roby died, I was a little like a lost soul...I didn't have any purpose, I didn't know what kind of food or music or movies I liked anymore...I knew what we had shared. When I approached 30, I realized I had never imagined being 30 - all I had ever done was live for that day, that week, that month. I had refused to imagine life after Roby while he was still with me. When he was gone, I realized I had to re-define myself. It takes a long time. I still sometimes stop and think - who am I really?

Just in case you are wondering - I would NEVER change anything unless it meant that Roby could be here, healthy and happy. If he was going to die and he asked me again to keep his secret, I would do it. In a heartbeat. It was the only thing I could do. But it did create a rich interior life/monologue for me - questioning, seeking, wondering. Although I am starting to discuss those things here, it is difficult. Keeping secrets for that long make it easier to withhold. I'm still working on it.

Anyway, this is the story of my block - FEAR. Fear of loss. Fear of self. Fear that nothing in my life will every be as important as loving that man. Fear that it was all for nothing if I can't get past the FEAR. He would have hated that I have so much fear. He was not fearful of anything except being alone and dying.

Ok. I'm done now. I have been holding that in since the call yesterday. It came to me so clearly that I needed to talk about this somehow. Anyway, there you go.

What Do You Mean it's only Wednesday??

Holy cow...How can it only be Wednesday? Perhaps I wonder this because I worked all weekend. It throws my sense of days off when I do that. Everything will right itself soon, though. :)



So, big doings today. "Chess" In Concert was on "Great Performances" tonight on PBS (OPB in Portland). I only saw the tail-end of it because I was at rehearsal until after 10pm tonight. I'm excited to watch it - "Chess", as I have said here before, is highly underrated. It has incredible music and voices, some interesting information and a huge variety of music genres. It is my mother's favorite musical. If you want to listen to it, I think it is best to get the original concept album from like 1984 or 1985. It has a black background with the white chess spaces. The newer ones are white with black spaces or red with white spaces (I think). Listen to "I Know Him So Well", "Heaven Help My Heart", "Pity the Child", "Anthem", "Mountain Duet" and "Quintet". Those are my faves and they are most "Broadway-ish". There are chorale numbers and a rock song, "One Night in Bangkok", as well as a fun little ditty called "Embassy Lament". I always imagine little oompa loompa guys singing that one.

In other big doings, I attended David Robinson and Patti Digh's teleconference tonight called "Playing with Blocks" - exploring the 3 main things that block us from living now and how to work through some of these items. I was extremely moved by the experience (although I do not understand Twitter at all!!)...almost to tears. So much of what they said resonated with me. It wasn't NEW information for me, but it was presented in ways that are super-accessible to me. Patti mentioned that humans are hard-wired for stories and I completely agree. They told stories to illustrate their ideas and the stories resonate and stick in my memory. They asked us to write down one block that we have that keeps us from living the life we want to live. I don't have the paper here, so I can't write the exact sentence down, but I wrote FEAR. As they illustrated the three main blocks, I realized that FEAR is a part of each of those blocks and my job is to figure out which FEARS are the REAL ones - the ones that create all the blocks and distractions and stories we tell ourselves about things.

I have a story to tell about my blocks, but I'm not ready to do it tonight. I want to be able to really articulate it well. For me, this story is the foundation for everything. The cement of my life - for all the good and bad. Stay tuned. I know that as I continue on this journey for the next 6 months, I will be uncovering and unlearning and recreating stories and finding new ways to live in the world. And I will be here, trying to record it all, trying to understand it all. I'm ready.

I'm Exhausted

I'm gonna keep this short and sweet today. I'm beat.

I'm wrecking my journal, rehearsing for RENT, working 12 hour days and not really sleeping that great. I know it will all calm down soon and I'm looking forward to that. I really just want to go to the movies and sit in the dark to be entertained.

Not very heroic in the month of Heroes, but there you have it.

Four More Days...

Four more days till we are in the big move at work. My office is filled with boxes, the walls are bare...I was gonna take some pictures, but I couldn't share them anyway.

The stress level is high as I try to finish all the packing (almost there), rehearse for "RENT" and sleep. I'm trying to maintain my sense of humor and a positive outlook, but it is hard.

Since the last few posts have been extremely long, I'm just posting a quick video here. Stay tuned for more of the countdown...

Ruby, Don't Take Your Love Town - Kenny Rogers and the First Edition 1972

John Denver -With You I'm Born Again - Billy Preston and Syreeta

My Life In Music - from Billboard Charts (Long)

My friend and I were talking about our life in music the other day - we have known each other since 1990, but we work with musical theatre, so we never really discussed the music of our pasts.  I decided that I would make a CD to give her of some of the songs from my formative years, which made me want to look up some of the songs I remember but that I wasn't sure what year they are from.

So here is the partial list (I stopped in 1990).  I started by choosing one or two songs each year that are particularly meaningful or memorable or ones that I loved and played over and over again.  As the years go on, it is harder and harder to choose one song...but you can definitely see trends.  I will finish the 1990-2009 tomorrow.  I have a feeling that my choices will decrease again as the years go on...I mostly listen to Broadway stuff now, so I rarely know anyone who is popular.

Anyway, hope some of these songs spark your memory.

1967: To Sir, With Love – Lulu
1968: Scarborough Fair/Canticle – Simon and Garfunkel
1969: Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
1970: Something’s Burning – Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
 Fire and Rain – James Taylor
1971: Joy to the World – Three Dog Night
 Take me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
1972: American Pie – Don McLean
 The Lion Sleeps Tonight – Robert John
 A Horse with No Name – America
 Burning Love – Elvis Presley
1973: Bad Bad Leroy Brown – Jim Croce
 The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia – Vicki Lawrence
 Delta Dawn – Helen Reddy
 Rocky Mountain High – John Denver
 Behind Closed Doors – Charlie Rich
 Live and Let Die – Wings
1974: Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks
 Sunshine on my Shoulder – John Denver
 Billy Don’t Be a Hero – Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
 The Most Beautiful Girl – Charlie Rich
 Time in a Bottle – Jim Croce
 Annie’s Song – John Denver
1975: My Eyes Adored You – Frankie Valli
 Thank God, I’m a Country Boy – John Denver
 Laughter in the Rain – Neil Sedaka
 Mandy – Barry Manilow
 Wildfire – Michael Murphy
 Listen to What the Man Said – Paul McCartney and Wings
1976: Don’t Go Breaking my Heart – Elton John and Kiki Dee
 December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)- Four Seasons 
 Play the Funky Music – Wild Cherry
 I Write the Songs – Barry Manilow
 I’d Really Love to See You Tonight – England Dan and John Ford Coley
 Convoy – C.W. McCall
 Disco Duck – Rick Dees
1977: Undercover Angel – Alan O’Day
 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – Leo Sayer
 Blinded by the Light – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
 Hot Line – Sylvers
1978: (Love Is) Thicker than Water – Andy Gibb
 Boogie Oogie Oogie – A Taste of Honey
 Three Times a Lady – Commodores
 You’re the One that I Want – Grease
 Hot Child in the City – Nick Gilder
 Two out of Three Ain’t Bad – Meat Loaf
 Take A Chance on Me – Abba
 Hot Blooded – Foreigner
 Dust in the Wind – Kansas
 Come Sail Away – Styx
 Here You Come Again – Dolly Parton
 Copacabana – Barry Manilow
1979: Le Freak – Chic
 Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
 Sad Eyes – Robert John
 Knock on Wood – Amii Stewart
 Don’t Cry Out Loud – Melissa Manchester
 Just When I Needed You Most – Randy Vanwarmer
 Shake Your Groove Thing – Peaches and Herb
 The Devil Went Down To Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band
 We are Family – Sister Sledge
 Boogie Wonderland – Earth Wind and Fire
 Renegade – Styx
1980: The Rose – Bette Midler
 Escape (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
 Babe – Styx
 With You I’m Born Again – Billy Preston and Syreeta
 Don’t Fall In Love with a Dreamer – Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes
 Fame – Irene Cara
1981: Endless Love – Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
 Lady – Kenny Rogers
 Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
 Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon
 Theme from “Greatest American Hero” – Joey Scarbury
 Morning Train (Nine to Five) – Sheena Easton
 I Love You – Climax Blues Band
 Medley – Stars on 45
 The One that You Love – Air Supply
 Take It On the Run – REO Speedwagon
 Boy from NYC – Manhattan Transfer
 Urgent – Foreigner
 You Make My Dreams – Hall and Oates
 America – Neil Diamond
 Ain’t Even Done with the Night – John Cougar
 While You See A Chance – Steve Windwood
 Same Old Lang Syne – Dan Fogelberg
 What Kind of Fool – Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb
 Whip It – Devo
1982: Jack and Diane – John Cougar
 Hard to Say I’m Sorry – Chicago
 Tainted Love – Soft Cell
 Rosanna – Toto
 Key Largo – Bertie Higgins
 Don’t Talk to Strangers – Rick Springfield
 Always on My Mind – Willie Nelson
 Sweet Dreams – Air Supply
 Who Can it Be Now- Men at Work
 Open Arms – Journey
 Don’t Stop Believing – Journey
 Leader of the Band – Dan Fogelberg
 Leather and Lace – Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
 I’ve Never Been To Me – Charlene
 Heat of the Moment – Asia
 Love in the First Degree – Alabama
 Gloria – Laura Branigan
 I Keep Forgetting – Michael McDonald
 Kids In America – Kim Wilde
 Working for the Weekend – Loverboy

1983: Beat it – Michael Jackson
 Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler
 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)- Eurythmics
 Do You Really Want to Hurt Me – Culture Club
 Hungry Like the Wolf – Duran Duran
 Africa – Toto
 Little Red Corvette – Prince
 Mr. Robato – Styx
 Time (clock of the Heart) – Culture Club
 Mickey – Toni Basil
 You Can’t Hurry Love – Phil Collins
 Separate Ways – Journey
 We’ve Got Tonight – Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton
 Always Something There to Remind Me – Naked Eyes
 Goody Two Shoes – Adam Ant
 Affair of the Heart – Rick Springfield
 Faithfully – Journey
 True – Spandau Ballet

1984: When Doves Cry – Prince
 Hello – Lionel Richie
 Karma Chameleon – Culture Club
 Girls Just Want To Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
 Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
 The Reflex – Duran Duran
 Let’s Go Crazy – Prince
 The Glamorous Life – Sheila E.
 Borderline – Madonna
 Sunglasses at Night – Corey Heart
Here Comes the Rain Again – Eurythmics
 Love is a Battlefield – Pat Benetar
 Love Somebody – Rick Springfield
 Church of the Poison Mind = Culture Club
 The Longest Time – Billy Joel

1985: Careless Whisper – Wham
 Like A Virgin – Madonna
 Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham
 I Want to Know what Love is – Foreigner
 Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears
 Take On Me – A-ha
 We are the World – USA for Africa
 Shout – Tears for Fears
 Everything she Wants – Wham
 All I Need – Jack Wagner
 Missing You – Diana Ross
 Material Girl- Madonna
 Would I Lie to You – Eurythmics
 Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
 Dress You Up – Madonna

1986: Broken Wings – Mr. Mister
 Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston
 Friends and Lovers – Carl Anderson and Gloria Loring
 True Colors – Cyndi Lauper
 What Have You Done for me Lately? – Janet Jackson
 I Didn’t Mean to Turn You on – Robert Palmer
 What You Need – INXS
 All Cried Out – Lisa Lisa with Cult Jam and Full Force
 Life In a Northern Town – Dream Academy
 

1987: I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
 The Way it is – Bruce Hornsby and the Range
 Looking for a New Love – Jody Watley
 I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For – U2
 Heart and Soul – T’pau
 Control – Janet Jackson
 Breakout – Swing Out Sister

1988: Faith – George Michael
 Need You tonight – INXS
 Never Gonna Give You Up – Rick Astley
 So Emotional – Whitney Houston
 Hands to Heaven – Breathe
 One More Try – George Michael
 Anything for You – Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine
 Wild, Wild West – Escape Club
 I’ll Always Love You – Taylor Dayne
 Man in the Mirror – Michael Jackson
 Father Figure – George Michael
 Hazy Shade of Winter – Bangles
 Monkey – George Michael
 Tell It To My Heart – Taylor Dayne
 1-2-3 – Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine
 Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

1989: Straight Up – Paula Abdul
 Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
 If You Don’t Know Me By Now – Simply Red
 Like A Prayer – Madonna
 Toy Soldier – Martika
 The Living Years –Mike and the Mechanics
 Wild Thing – Tone Loc
 If I Could Turn Back Time – Cher
 So Alive – Love and Rockets
 Soldier of Love – Donny Osmond
 Cherish – Madonna
 Heaven Help Me – Deon Estus
 The End of Innocence – Don Henley
1990: Hold On, Wilson Phillips
 Vogue, Madonna
 Release Me, Wilson Phillips
 All Around The World, Lisa Stansfield
 We Didn't Start The Fire, Billy Joel
 Rhythm Nation, Janet Jackson
 Praying For Time, George Michael
 Black Cat, Janet Jackson
 

Some stuff about Me - Meme from Paper Follies :)

My blog friend, Heather, from Paper Follies posted a lovely list of questions and answers for readers to get to know her better.  I thought it was fun, so I'm doing it, too. :)

What is your current obsession? 

You mean besides sleep?  Ummm...my telecoaching that starts in July.  

What is your weirdest obsession? 

Hmmm...reusing paper when it only has a line or two used on it.  I have 2 moving boxes full of it at work.  In high school, my friend, Jeffa, and I said that we were saving those sheets from "Blank Paper Hell"...we reused old worksheets from classes, assignments, papers with a few lines crossed out...whatever we could.

I WANTED to put it all in the shredding bin, but there was SO MUCH, I just couldn't. 

What are you wearing today?

Clothes for packing boxes for the work move.  Specifically, Halloween shirt (not the spooky fun shirt) and black pants, comfy shoes.

What's for dinner?

Smoked brisket and BBQ sauce, some baked french fries and a salad with lemon juice for dressing.  Courtesy of Buster's BBQ.

What would you eat for your last meal?

Hmm.  That's a good question...I would want to taste some childhood things, some current favorites.  Definitely some Mussamun curry with chicken, some general Tso's chicken, watermelon, salad with lemon.  Something chocolate for dessert.  A diet coke without the blinding migraine (I don't drink it anymore...it's been 2 years).

What is the next "special ME" item you would like to purchase?

Kindle 2.  But I love books and how they feel.  I'm thinking Kindle is for trade paperbacks, work topics, non-fiction...but I am so enamoured with it. 

What are you listening to right now?
Just finished "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", ready for the next book, when I'm done interpreting RENT on July 25.   


What is your favourite ice-cream flavour?

Peanut butter and chocolate.

If your life could be summed up in six words what would they be?

books, friends, Roby, theatre, work, family 


What do you think of the person who tagged you?

No people were tagged for this endeavor. :)  But I got the idea from Heather over at Paper Follies.  I think she is lovely, friendly, artist, creative.  I am enjoying getting to know her in the blogosphere.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?

1.  Something right in the heart of Manhattan - near Times Square

2.  A straw-bale structure which is probably best in NM or AZ, but I don't like the heat...

3.  A house with a beautiful library like in "Meet Joe Black", with a window seat, a backyard pool, flowers, an art/creativity room.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

Well, if it is only for an hour, I would want to go to the beach.  If I could have a few hours, I would want to be on Broadway, seeing the revival of "West Side Story".

Which language do you want to learn?

Ummm...really, I'd like to use the ones I know more fluently.  ASL and English.  If I added another, I'd love to work on German or Spanish.

Who do you want to meet right now?

Patti Digh.  

What is your favourite colour?
 
Neon Pink and Sunshine Yellow.  Bright, happy.  Colors I can't wear when I interpret. :(

What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?

Pink pants, pink shirts.  Plus my "Spooky fun. Boo" Halloween shirt.

Your favourite quote? 

I have lots...one that is a long-standing favorite is "To love another person is to see the face of God."  from the musical Les Miserables 

What is your dream job?

Writer, teacher, interpreting theatre...I'm not choosy. 

What is your favourite magazine?

Not a big magazine reader...I get Oprah right now, TV Guide.  I go through phases with Entertainment Weekly.  I love National Geographic, but I don't have time.  

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on?

(Heather says:  That translates to $164.92 in US dollars.)  If I had $164.92, I would go to the beach for 2 nights (there is a special $79/night in Lincoln City) and if there was any leftover, I could get a beverage. :)

Favourite designer?

Chuck Taylor shoes.  Sean John has nice clothes for men.  For women, I don't actually pay attention...Roby liked Kenneth Cole...

Describe your personal style.

I'm count myself lucky if my clothes all match.  I have trouble putting colors together sometimes...

What are three things (big or small) that you would still like to achieve this year?

1. Find more work/life balance.
   
2. Complete my telecoaching experience in December and implement the concepts I have learned as I go along.
3. Continue work on some of the stories I am trying to record.

What are your favourite movies? 

Wow...this is a hard one...there are so many.  Don't judge me.

1. Schindler's List
2. The Color Purple
3. Fried Green Tomatoes
4. Boys on the Side
5. Longtime Companion
6. True Lies
7. Armageddon
8. Deep Impact
9. Speed
10. Keeping the Faith
11. Yentl
12. Project X
13. The Breakfast Club
14. My Life
15. Kindergarten Cop
16. The Little Princess
17. The Little Mermaid
18. Dead Poet's Society
19. City Slickers
20. When Harry Met Sally
21. Big
22. Dances with Wolves
23. Grease
24. West Side Story
25. Jumping Jack Flash
26. and many, many more...
    

What's your favourite fruit?

Watermelon.  But I'm allergic - in a bad way.  Throat closes, mouth swells. So I can't eat it. :(  Lemons comes in at #2.  On salads or just eating the whole thing like an orange.  3.  Strawberries which I didn't like until I was about 25 years old. Now I love them.  Hoods and Pugets.  Fresh from the field. Yum.

What inspires you?

 Theatre, music, color.  Art. Beautiful voices singing.  A good book.

What music do you like this week?

Right now, I'm listening to RENT for rehearsal, but I love it.  And I have been alternating with Spring Awakening.

What is something you know with every fibre of your being?

I know that life isn't about work.  I know that I can change my focus  and make it FEEL like life isn't about work in addition to knowing it.
 

*"The rules":

1. Respond and rework - answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own.

2. Tag five other people.

{3. Rules are made to be bent.}  Reason for Rule #3: I really don’t like tagging folks. I never was any good at that game. I much rather liked freeze tag, where you got to untag people. So if you want to share a bit about you, don’t forget to let me know, so I can head on over and get to know you better. 

**Please know that I have made SEVERAL attempts to make this more readable - I tried bolding the questions, but only some show up when you save it.  I tried numbering, but it messed with the formatting.  I tried making all the questions italic, but only some of them showed up.  So, I give up.  But I did try.

Wreck This Journal: Week 2

I had a really good time the last couple of weeks working on Wrecking my journal.  I forgot to take a picture of the book in its original state, though.  I did take a photo after week one, though, so it definitely shows the progress so far.

I bought the book a while ago.  It has a remainder mark on the top and bottom, but otherwise was pretty unscathed, until I started scathing. Hee hee.

My favorite so far has been adding my own page numbers...I'm not done yet, but I realized in looking around at some of the other Wrecker's blogs - I took the directions in an entirely different way than the folks I have seen so far...I didn't number the pages in order. I started randomly assigning numbers to the pages and in strange places. Problem is that even if I took a bunch of photos of it, it wouldn't make sense. I also really like adding color to the book. I'm excited to do more things with color.  I have been putting off anything to do with food and licking and REAL mess...I think I have to get through the move at work before I can really focus on the good stuff.

Here are some photos of my destruction.  I am also working on the page where you rip out the page, put it in your pocket, wash it and put it back in the book. I realized I better step it up if I want to be done by the end.  I thought I should pace myself in the beginning, but I think I'm behind now. It's all good - will make the urgency of destruction that much more effective.  Anyway, enjoy! I'm WildRumpusing through Wrecking my Journal!!