Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Struggling with Self

I'm going through one of those weird phases where I wonder what I'm supposed to be doing and why I'm not doing it. There isn't much to really say except that in some ways, I feel like parts of me are disappearing or folding up into themselves and I'm not sure how to change that.  I have some ideas, but I'm not there yet.

Just a lot of deep thinking to do.  And I need to put it off...after the show. After the show.  (How many times have I said THAT over the last 20 years...?)



Monday, July 30, 2012

Social Media Barrier

I don't understand why people (television people) think the audience wants to sit and listen to them read random twitter and facebook posts during a broadcast. I mean, it is is bad enough that they have "Social Media Specialists" on some of the shows "The Voice", a couple of other reality/competition shows.  But when they start reading them on news casts, during entertainment news, etc., it is really ridiculous.

Obviously, I am not opposed to social media - I use it. I just think there is a time and place for it and I don't really want to PARTICIPATE in television shows. I don't keep my phone in my pocket. I don't use it while I'm sitting at home.  I don't get it. I just think there are times to turn it off.

I think I might be in a dwindling minority.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Back to Rehearsal

I gave myself some time off from the show, but now I have to get to work. I have some tweaks and some dialogue I'm working through for the second performance.

Here's a clip of "Jersey Boys" when they were on the Tony Awards:



Saturday, July 28, 2012

Art Return

I am looking forward to bringing back the art to my world. I have been neglecting that for a long time. I think I got freaked out - I was trying all these new techniques and taking the courses and some of them moved so fast.  I don't think I'm the "move fast" kind of person - I really need to take the time to understand something new and to try it and practice.

I'm not necessarily going to photograph it all when I start back up again - that might take some of the pressure off (my own pressure, I know!).  I think that maybe I just need to allow myself to do "imperfect art projects" and accept that things aren't always going to turn out exactly how I want them to - my goal is to do the projects for the sake of doing them.  It isn't about the product necessarily - it really is about doing the creative work.

I can't wait!

Friday, July 27, 2012

Opening Ceremonies

I love LOVE love the Olympics. I'm not even partial to the Summer or Winter - I love them both.  I love the stories of the known and unknown athletes. I love that they are all there to represent their countries and to shine in front of the world. I love the "overcoming the odds" stories.  I tear up when they play our national anthem. Every time.

I just think there is power to spending 10 days (or whatever) paying attention to GOOD people doing GOOD things. Or giving the impression of being good people.  The energy and good will that is released when the world is attending to something so positive and powerful can only be good on the largest, grandest scale.  There are moments that are not so awe-inspiring, but they are not the moments we remember.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Purple Hydrangia

This is the other hydrangia in the yard.  It is beautiful and it has different pH around it (one side is close to a tree) and so you can see the deeper bluish purple and the more magenta color both on the same plant. I love that.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Update On Reading

I've been reading "Tiger's Curse" by a fellow interpreter, Colleen Houck. She lives in Oregon and I have worked with her a couple of times. I'm enjoying the book and wishing I had more time to read.  Mostly, I just read some before I go to sleep at night. It's on my Kindle, so I don't know how many pages. Sometimes I read a whole chapter, but sometimes not.  I'm at 73% now. Whatever that means.  I'm still not the biggest fan of e-readers, but it will do in a pinch.

When I'm done with "Jersey Boys", I think I'm going to set some goals for reading more and faster. And maybe outside. :)

Did I mention I had a vitamin D deficiency?  I have been taking lots of supplements but I need to get outside, as well, and do it the natural way.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

A New Song

A Friend posted this video on FB and I remembered really liking Anoop Desai from American Idol.  I don't know much about this song, but I hope he makes it.



Here's Anoop on American Idol singing "True Colors" (a classic song!). Nice job.



Monday, July 23, 2012

Wheat Sensitive

Well, I'm pretty sure that I have a wheat sensitivity. It doesn't bother me all the time, but after a very specific pattern of eating the graham cracker pie, then being sick the next day, not eating it for another day, then having a piece and getting sick.  It is pretty much the only common denominator when I looked back at what I had been eating.

I have had "sensitivities" to wheat before - given the severity of some of my other food allergies, this really is more of a sensitivity than a full-on allergy. The only problem is that they tend to become full-on allergies at some point.  I hope I don't have to go gluten-free, but I know I could if I had to do it.

Here's hoping it is a temporary situation. No more graham cracker crust for me.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Hydrangia Beauties

Here are some photos of the hydrangias outside of my house.  I love them - their color, shape, their vibrancy. Lovely.  One of my favorite flowering plants.





Saturday, July 21, 2012

Weekend Off

So, I have done very little that is actually useful today. I have been listening to Carrie Underwood's new album, playing solitaire and just chilling.  I did get dressed, which I considered NOT doing. I just couldn't go there, but I did feel like taking the weekend off from the show and from worrying about stuff. I have to do some work things, but it isn't too bad.  After dinner and work, I watched some "Army Wives".  (I haven't talked about that series here, have I?  I love it - there is something familiar about that life and it comforts me, even though I was just a kid when my father was in the Air Force...they use the same vocabulary we used...getting orders, TDY, living on base.)

Still feeling sad about how desperate people are in this world and how many people suffer at the hands of people who are miserable and unhappy and lost.


Friday, July 20, 2012

Oh, Aurora

I was born in Aurora, Colorado in 1967.  I only lived there until I was almost six, but I still feel like that is where I am from.

My heart breaks for those affected by the shooting at the movie theater there. What a sad state of affairs.


Thursday, July 19, 2012

One Down

Well, the show went very well. There were a couple of rough patches and it was SUPER LOUD as we were placed directly in front of the giant speaker tower. There really isn't a better place to put us and that is normally where we stand. I just plug my ear when I have to turn my head to the stage for too long.

The audience was energetic and enthusiastic.  I hope everyone enjoyed the show.

I wasn't quite hydrated enough - I could tell by the end of the show that I was needing more water, but it wasn't too bad. I feel like I was really close to where I needed to be, so that was nice.  I did have a weird reaction this show - I started to lose my voice.. Weird, since I don't have to sing or talk at all.  By the time I got home, I was super hoarse and my throat felt like it was raw. I think that might be part of the lack of hydration - I drank about a gallon of water when I got done.

Oh. Also, I found out that I am extremely vitamin D deficient this week. I am taking supplements, but I wonder if that may have contributed to the weak/hoarse voice after the show.  I have been running around so I haven't really had a bunch of time to research it. I know being low is not good and also quite common in the Northwest. Gotta get outside more to help those supplements along.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Good Show

We saw the touring production of "Jersey Boys" tonight. The show is really quite good. The dialogue is fast and furious and full of NJ lingo and pop culture references that always make things interesting.  We have a lot to do by tomorrow, but I know it will be a good performance.

You know you are "mature" when you decide that sleep will benefit you more than cramming and pulling an all nighter...I'm going to bed...

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Gearing Up

The show is on Thursday this week, but we don't get to see it until tomorrow night. Usually, we see it on Tuesday night and have another day to fix some issues, but when the shows are here for a long time, we sometimes don't have the opportunity as the opening night is changed.

It will be fine - just throws my schedule off a little bit. It's funny how we get into such habitual behavior - I have all my week before the show, week of show, day of preview, day before the show and day of show "traditions". I'm not superstitious about them - except for hydrating and eating the same kind of food at the same time of day on day of show. I finally found a good combo of carbs and protein that gets me through the show. I used to get really sick day of show and not eat, then I would run out of energy so this is a big improvement.

Wish us luck! I think it will be a fun show and a challenge. Then, we have a couple of weeks to rework some of it and do it all over again!



Monday, July 16, 2012

Working My Way...

We are rehearsing for "Jersey Boys" right now.  The script and the CD are not the same which makes it...difficult.  The script has to be returned, which is fine, but which hampers my ability to work on it as I don't want to send my translations out to the world.  I just do some of the work in a notebook...

The show is good but wow...interpreting a song that has lyrics that tell a story and interpreting a song that has a story that the lyrics don't really indicate are REALLY different.  I'm more of a storytelling interpreter.  I find it challenging to work with shows that have lyrics like "Oh, Baby, baby."

Here's a little taste of the show:



Sunday, July 15, 2012

"Brave" and Beautiful

I went to see "Brave" at the movies last Friday and I loved it. I loved the characters, the story, the color.  Merida's hair was stunning, the mother was brilliantly done.  Nicely done, Pixar!  I highly recommend this movie.  It is a great mother/daughter film, as well.  It was nice, for once, to have a "fairy tale" like story without killing off the mother.


Saturday, July 14, 2012

Birthday, 40 Years Later

Photos from my fifth birthday in Aurora, Colorado.  Family and close family friends present to celebrate. 

Family and close family friends present to celebrate tonight, too.  We had sugar-free graham cracker pie instead of cake. Yum.  A good time was had by all.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Out of Office Assistant

Funny story...

I NEVER use the MS Outlook "Out of Office Assistant" for a variety of reasons. The main reason is that I rarely take time off when I don't check my email AT ALL.  Generally, I will check it periodically just to keep from being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of it.

On Saturday night, I decided to go ahead and use it for this little vacation and started setting it up.  When I went in, there was an old message from August 2010 (the last time I used it). I had just finished booking my lodging for my August vacation, just finished scheduling at work through August, etc. When I saw the dates, I thought - how interesting, I'm taking vacation almost at the same time I did a couple of years ago. Not once did I realize that this is JULY...so I set my message to say that I was returning on August 12...instead of July 12.

When I was catching up on my email yesterday, I got a note from someone that was my first indication that I had made a mistake.  I had my usual freak out that I had made some big mistake. My first response is to overreact and send an apology to everyone I have ever met.  Then I paused and I thought - well, I rarely read the Out of Office responses unless I urgently need to contact someone - the person who noted it knows me well...I will not send an apology to the whole company. It will be fine. I'm sure only a couple of people noticed...

Well, come to find out that HR called MY BOSS!!  "Is Jean okay?  We see that she is out until August 12..."  ARRRGHH!!  One of my friends who works in another state called the scheduler at my office to make sure I was okay...  When I was at work today, everyone was ribbing me about it.  I took a deep sigh and decided to laugh. I'm only human, right?  No one died.  I'm back at work and all is well, but I won't be using the Out of Office Assistant again without a date-checker!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

First Day Back

I highly recommend, if you are able, coming back from vacation and working from home on the first day. I went to my meetings, talked to folks on the phone, kept an eye on things, caught up on email, etc.  I had an appointment in the middle of the day that I worked really hard to move, but it just didn't work.  Didn't make sense for me to drive the hour to work, work a couple of hours, drive an hour+ to my appointment, drive an hour + back to work and not ruin the entire vacation effect.  Luckily, I'm in a position to be able to do that occasionally. I don't take advantage of the opportunity so that when I do need to do it, I don't feel as guilty.

It was a nice way to reacclimate and the appointment was important, so all is well.

But I do miss the Food Network.  Current favorite is Chopped! and The Cupcake Wars. :)

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Home Again, Home Again

The fog rolled in so strong last night it looked like heavy sheets of rain coming from the ocean in the tiny lights on the building. It was beautiful.  It's funny that almost every time I come here, the last night gets foggy and lasts into the morning. By the time I get to Lincoln City on the way home, the sun is shining there, but it is almost like the fog is ushering me home.  Makes it easier to go when it is getting colder. Just a little demarcation - vacation was sunny, now it is foggy. Go home. :)

This was a little too short, I think, but better than not going at all. I have another bit of time later in August booked - when I don't have a show and other things I need to worry about.  This was a great breather and will help me keep my sanity for a little while.

Stopped at the beach in Lincoln City for a few minutes. I saw a woman dressed entirely for winter - she was wearing a full length down coat, a woolen hat and heavy pants.  It was about 65 degrees out but very windy. One last look and back to real life.



I think I need to start taking pictures that include people (me, people I know, etc.). I'm not a good photographer, really, but I don't practice enough. I just need to start practicing and see what happens.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Day Two of Sheer Relaxation

Okay, first of all, let me just say that it is SO GOOD that I don't have cable.  The Food Network is like an evil snake.  I'm not even a foodie - most of the stuff they cook sounds AWFUL but I find the cooking and the competitions FASCINATING - like a snake...I did do other stuff while I was here but it just cemented my resolve to stay away from having stuff on television that I actually like.

Went swimming and hung out on the deck, took a nap, read. RELAXED.  Vacation is good.

The view from the deck

View from the deck straight out in front

I love watching birds bathe - too funny

Vacation accoutrements - Vogue was for the Emma Stone article and some art journaling (which I did not do). I also have my script, "A Discovery of Witches", my Kindle, my iPod (the new Carrie Underwood album is GOOD), and my joy pen.  I should have worked on the script more. I didn't read the book - I read in my Kindle this time. I'm about 1/3 of the way through "Tiger's Curse" that was written by a fellow interpreter in Oregon, Colleen Houck.

Monday, July 9, 2012

First Real Day of Vacation

Drove out to the beach yesterday and got here around 4pm. The weather is sunny but cool - around 65 degrees out. This is a different condo than the one I usually rent - that one was available and then, 6 hours later (over night), it wasn't.

This place is nice (and for sale) but I still prefer the other location (probably because I went there first).

Here are some photos of the condo:













Ahhh.  Time to Relax.



Sunday, July 8, 2012

"Someone Like You" - ASL Storytelling

There is sound on this vide - a beautiful ASL Storytelling rendition by Sherry Hicks. I was fortunate enough to see her in a performance many years ago in Las Vegas at the Region V conference with a group called Half and Half. Their style and talent always stuck with me.

\

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Entering the 21st Century

All right, folks. I have entered the 21st Century...I got a new phone. I have a work blackberry but I needed something that I could use personally and my old black berry (one of the first versions, I suspect) wasn't doing it for me. I got an upgrade and yesterday I finally called TMobile to set up the data plan. They are always amazed when I call because I have been with them for almost 10 years...I just figure it is easier to stay with the same company - sometimes it is cheaper, sometimes not, but eventually, you get some perks.

Anyway, I now have a phone and am working on setting up the email account to go with it...I'm hoping I will figure it out before the beginning of the next century although I'm not sure if that will happen...I already can't find the "Call Voicemail" command...it says I have a voicemail, but I don't know where it lives.

Even if I stand in the same place, the landscape just changes around me. It's a good lesson.



Friday, July 6, 2012

Practice Art

I am hoping to practice some art this weekend and on my vacation.  It has been too long.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Someone Like You - Cover

Someone posted this on Facebook today. It was beautiful.


Happy Fourth of July!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

In The Home Stretch

There are less days of work left than the number of days of my vacation. This is good. I'm on the downward slope towards some days off and time away. Nothing bad is happening, nothing unusual. I'm just tired. It's been a while. As I get older, I am realizing more and more that time AWAY is really important. I used to just think a day off here or there would keep me, but now I just need some time away to reset my body and mind. To really relax for more than an afternoon before I have to get up and do it all again.

Soon. Very soon.



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