Almost There

Tomorrow is opening night for The Music Man.

We're almost there. I just realized yesterday that this show is going to be pretty amazing. I got to wear a microphone for the first time last night at our dress rehearsal - and it wasn't turned off for 76 Trombones. So when I was singing the last verse with everyone else (in my Irish accent, no less!) my mother said it sounded like a solo. Oops! ;) Good thing the mic didn't pick up on the improvised conversation I was having with "Marian" off stage as we were making our way back to the dressing room. I was reproving her for bringing her book to the River City July 4th event at City Hall.

I know that a full account of the last few days would bore you all to tears. They've been loads of fun, but they lose something in the retelling. But I have to say these last three things:

1) My feet hurt.

2) The City Hall bleachers are the best part of the show. Seriously. When I'm in the ensemble, I get to sit up there during part of Shipoopi clapping and cheering until my hands are red. And when I'm Mrs. Paroo, I get to sit up there with Marian. And I think we just have too much fun up there.

3) I forgot what 3 was...

It's going to be quite a week... (Please pray)

I'd like to ask my lovely readers for their prayers for my family this week. My sister and I are going to the West Coast March for Life this Saturday, which is going to be a long long long day (we'll get up at 3:00 AM to drive to another town and catch a bus with another church). Then the day after that, we have church and Production Week for The Music Man begins. So all next week will be long rehearsals - we'll get home at 11 PM at the earliest each night (we live an hour away from rehearsals and the theatre - yes, I know you'll think us crazy, but it's really not as insane as it sounds.) Then on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - PERFORMANCES!

I just don't know where I'm going to find time to rest! Please pray for all of us, my mom (our faithful driver :) ) especially, that we'll be able to find the energy we need, and keep our tempers with each other.

Thanks. :)

EDIT - Turns out that we're not going to the Walk For Life after all. My dad said not until we're at least 18. :P (So no, cuileann, I'm not going to be in your city today. :( ) But this does give me a chance to take it easy before Production Week begins, and I'm very grateful for that!

Get Out Your Clubs

I just found this quote.

"You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." -Jack London

I don't have a club, but perhaps a baseball bat would do?

A Word... Or Two

Some quotes:

"A halfwit is someone who spends half his time trying to be witty." - An irritated Nancy Drew from one of the 1930's movies. Nancy Drew and The Hidden Staircase, I believe.

"That was really close to... almost average." - Kyle, the Music Man director, after we danced 76 Trombones. Hey, we're getting there. (Speaking of which - one of the shows I'm in is ALMOST SOLD OUT!)

"There is some blue sky, let us chase it!" - Marianne, from Sense & Sensibility (1995 movie)

And, ah, I don't really have any news or anything interesting to write... except that I'm obsessed with the Andrews Sisters right now. I don't know how it happened. My little sister thinks I'm insane, but Desirae is cooperating and sings "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and "Way Down Yonder In New Orleans" with me when I want her to. ;) (My mother is actually singing the latter in the kitchen at the moment.)

Goodnight, moon. Goodnight cow jumping over the moon. Goodnight bowl, goodnight spoon. Goodnight nobody. Goodnight mush. Goodnight, little old lady whispering "hush."

Or however it goes...

20 Questions

Today my little sister bought an electronic game of 20 Questions, similar to this one, but newer and pink. It works like a regular game of 20 Questions. But this thing is way smarter than any human being. It's creepy. Honestly.

So we've been trying to stump it.

We couldn't do it with "crucifix." My dad got it with "cigarette" which isn't surprising, considering it's a kid's toy. Then...

My dad thought of an object. My sister was reading the 20th question out loud at the dinner table.
Dad: "No."
Sister: "Ok... it's guessing... It guessed a feather."
Dad: "It -" He dropped his fork on the table. "You're kidding."
Sister: "Nope."
Dad: "That's AMAZING! How did it guess feather!?"

So then he was impressed.

Then later tonight, he thought of another object. "Guitar strings?" my sister said after the first question (he was playing his electric guitar at the moment).
Dad: "Don't say it out loud!"
Sister: "Pssh." She continued with the questions.
Then at the twentieth... they were both sure it would be stumped... and!
Sister: "... Ohmygosh. Guitar strings."
Dad: "NO WAY! You typed that in!"
Sister: "No, you can't type on it!"
Dad: "Let me see that. Let me get my glasses. " He got his glasses, peered at the strings, and freaked out. "NO WAY! That's not possible! That's creepy, man! It's because you said it out loud. I'm telling you, it's got a recording device!"

And NOW they're referring to the toy as "he."

Sister: "Oh, I know what you're thinking of. I heard you tell Desirae. HE heard it too.
Dad: "He better not have."
Sister: "I -"
Dad: "If it gets it, it's your fault!"

But Dad still wants to flush it down the toilet. He hates it passionately. "Stump that little pink rat-brain! Does it know what a toilet vortex is?" he told my sister Desirae.

Humor from RinkWorks

When I need a laugh, I go to RinkWorks.com

Favorite pages:

Book-A-Minute

Things People Said

In particular:

Courtroom Quotations

Patient Charts

Church Bulletins

Questions Asked Of Librarians

Enjoy!

Planned Reading for 2009

Clare shared her planned reading list for the new year on her blog, so I decided to do something similar, for those of you who are interested in what I'll be reading during 2009.

I have very few definite ideas:

Definite Idea #1) There are books on my shelf that I must read.
Definite Idea #2) I want to re-read all of Jane Austen's books in order of their publication (unfortunately, these are not on my shelf. :( )

Other than that, I don't know much. Between the classics I have on my list, I'll want to read lighter, easier books, which I'll get from the library when the whim takes me.

Here are some of the books I plan on reading:

01. Manalive G.K. Chesterton (read this one yesterday)
02. The Two Towers J.R.R. Tolkien
03. The Return of the King J.R.R. Tolkien
04. The Scottish Chiefs Jane Porter (reading this one now)
05. Story of a Soul Saint Therese
06. Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte
07. Out of the Silent Planet C.S. Lewis
08. Perelandra C.S. Lewis
09. That Hideous Strength C.S. Lewis
10. Mere Christianity C.S. Lewis
11. The Problem of Pain C.S. Lewis
12. The Temperament God Gave You Art and Laraine Bennet
13. Three Men In A Boat Jerome K. Jerome
14. Shadows On The Rock Willa Cather
15. Saphira and the Slave Girl Willa Cather
16. The Old Curiosity Shop Charles Dickens
17. David Copperfield Charles Dickens
18. Surprised by Joy C.S. Lewis
19. Giants In The Earth O.E. Rolvaag
20. The Everlasting Man G.K. Chesterton
21. Four Faultless Felons G.K. Chesterton
22. Sense & Sensibility Jane Austen
23. Pride & Prejudice Jane Austen
24. Mansfield Park Jane Austen
25. Emma Jane Austen
26. Northanger Abbey Jane Austen
27. Persuasion Jane Austen

Among others.

As for the order I'll read them in... I have a certain fancy for reading Wuthering Heights in February, and the Space Trilogy in March. Silly, I know. :)

[edit] This makes blog post #100!