The Day After

I'm at Zo's now, writing a blog post while she naps. Before this I watched a whole episode of Criminal Minds on their TV. I could be reading my book if I wanted.
The reason this is all so noteworthy is because for the last three weeks(? Month?) I have been working three jobs, and preparing to take a show into tech. I've spent every child's nap time doing paperwork, answering emails, making lists or napping myself, because I was so exhausted.
Today I am sitting still and watching the clouds bring in sheets and sheets of endless PNW rain.

On: Small Miracles (The Storm in the Barn Tech - Day 3)

Well, today was rough. More than rough. Kind of terrible, actually, until the last two hours of it.

Of twenty-four hours in today (Friday, April 27) I spent:
1 hour eating Mexican food after tech
6 hours sleeping
1 hour getting ready for work
3 hours being nervous about tech
6 hours teching slowly and painfully and stressfully
1 hour eating a burger with Mona
1 hour being nervous about my Invited Dress
1 hour totally fucking up my Invited Dress
2 hours doing tech notes, talking about how I fucked up Invited Dress, hating myself for fucking up Invited Dress, deciding I was never working in theater again, much less with any of the people on this show since they all must hate me
2 hours at the bar, remembering why I love theater people.

My small miracle today was Kailyn McCord, my sound designer's girlfriend and one of my new Portland friends, who demanded I go out for a drink.

On: Small Miracles (The Storm in the Barn Tech - Day 2)

I want to write something flippant because I'm tired and I have an incredibly long day ahead of me tomorrow.
But I won't. I only have three blog posts on this subject, might as well make it good.

Today's small miracle: Kiley.

Kiley was not the high school intern assigned to me at the beginning of my rehearsal process. Kiley is a highschooler who has been hanging around OCT and asked Kira for something to do, so she came to do line notes for me one night. And then the next. And then the next. She knows more about this show than my ASM does at this point because she is just a quiet, enthusiastic little sponge. During tech she has always been one step behind me as I dash around the set/theater/room, quiet, waiting for me to need her.  Which I invariably do, all the time.
"Kiley, give this box to Chris."
"Kiley, hold this tape."
"Kiley, can you tuck Steele's mic in?"
"Kiley, grab me a broom? Actually, Kiley, can you sweep this for me?"
"Kiley..."
"Kiley..."
"Kiley..."

The first day I got to use the page mic she was standing beside me as I called my actors to the set. I was little-girl excited to get to use the page mic but wanted to seem like it wasn't a big deal. But I turned around and there she was, smiling behind her big glasses and she said, "Wow. That is SO cool." I couldn't help myself, "Yeah, huh?!"

She doesn't stop, she doesn't complain, she doesn't ask unnecessary questions or chat too much. She is going to be an amazing stage manager some day - and she's been my small miracle for the past week.

On: Small Miracles (The Storm in the Barn Tech - Day 1)

My second small miracle: I'm 22 years old and I have these keys.

On: Small Miracles (The Storm in the Barn Tech - Day 1)

I decided this tech week's blog topic on my drive home tonight (which, incidentally, ended up being driving down Salmon, on to Natio Parkway and then home on Powell): Small Miracles.
First, I thought this was appropriate because theater, when done well, can spawn these small miracles. And some shows are just a constant barrage of small miracles. Some shows are big miracles.
Second, I thought this was appropriate because my tech for this show is so short. Tech is the time of the highest  highs and the lowest lows, so it only makes sense that tech is also also the time for miracles.

That being said: this morning, I forgot my wallet.
I left the house in my SM apron, with my prompt book and my notebook and my laptop in my backpack, with my stage door pass clipped to my shirt, with my lunch and candy in a brown paper bag, with not one but two diet cokes and I checked it all twice and thought I was ready.
The Winningstad Theatre is downtown, so parking is already a bitch. I managed to snag a prime three hour spot and jumped out of my car to pay the meter... and lo and behold, I'd forgotten my wallet. The prospect of giving up this spot only three blocks away from the theater was killing me, but I knew I had to go back. I called my production manager to tell her why I'd be later than I expected and she said: "You were going to pay for parking? You're our stage manager! Go make the theater give you a parking pass!"
And they did.
I parked RIGHT behind the theater, downtown, all day, and didn't pay a single quarter.

My first small miracle.

Tech Topic!

Gahh! I have to think of one! Fast!

Meanwhile: read this article about my play. Then come see my play.

http://www.oregonlive.com/performance/index.ssf/2012/04/oregon_childrens_theatre_doesn.html

Saturday

Lazy morning
Guacamole
Sunshine
Day drunk
Learned how to play backgammon
Movie @ Laurelhurst with my wifey
Reading the new Cosmo with my wifey
Trading country music videos with Nick Shoepepper and boy tips with Lauren
<3

Procrastination

I do not want to make this deck run sheet.
I do not want to make this deck run sheet.
I do not want to make this deck run sheet.
I do not want to make this deck run sheet.

I'm not even ASMing and here I am, devoting my weekend to one of the most tedious pieces of paperwork known to Stage Management.

I just want to watch baseball.

I do not want to make this deck run sheet.
I do not want to make this deck run sheet.
I do not want to make this deck run sheet.

Moments Alone

How often do you have them? And what do you think about when you do?

My schedule right now is such that my only significant alone time is when I'm in the car. Sure, I have the time in the shower and the time right before I fall asleep at night. And sometimes I have the hours when the children I nanny are napping, but I'm never really alone then - I always have one ear listening to a little sleeper's breathing.
I live my life this way because I like it this way; I've never particularly liked being alone.  But at the same time, there is an importance to moments alone. It's when you talk to yourself most, when your face assumes it's most natural expression, it's when you scratch what itches and drop your posture.
The fact that my alone time is mostly en route has linked some funny things for me. Music has become endlessly important and a single song can switch my entire mood, because I find myself most open when I'm driving and the radio's playing. It also means that certain parts of my drive take on something more: a stop light is a moment to breathe deeply or shut my eyes, a stretch of highway is clear head-ed-ness and simple acceleration.
And sometimes it boils down to just this: Tessie will come up here in a month and take the Bug away from me. I know it's just an object, but I'll be sad to see her go. She's been my only companion for all my alone moments recently.

Pennies and Dimes

So - basically- it's almost midnight and I still haven't done my rehearsal report. I know I'm a delinquent stage manager, you don't have to say it out loud.

Call Me, Maybe
Caitlyn was obsessed, I became obsessed, now it's all I'm rocking out to in my little yell'er bug as I zoom about   PDX. The best is when I'm singing at the top of my lungs with my windows down and the other drivers give me a look.The second best is that I think about two boys in particular when I scream those lyrics and they could not be more different. It's a little ridiculous. Boy #1: "Ripped jeans, skin was showin." Boy #2: "I wasn't looking for this, but now you're in my way."

Storm in the Barn
First stumble through tonight and we still haven't blocked the end of the play.
Also - have I mentioned that we go into tech in two weeks from tomorrow?
Or that I only have twelve hours to tech it?

Visitors
We've had quite a few visitors at The Manor recently. Xheni and her two friend from home came on Friday and left Monday morning. Chelsea got here Monday night and will be here until Saturday. It's nice to have so many friends visiting but it's also a little stressful. Chelsea is less so since she is really self-sufficient, what with her own car, some job interviews and the boyfriend. Stress or no stress, it's always great to have people visit.

Lately
I've been thinking about what I deserve, what I need to earn and what I can expect.

Overheard at The Manor
"I'm just icing my lip so you won't see my erection."

Stage Management: A Photo Essay

Sometimes you draw blocking patterns and they accidentally look like hearts.

Sometimes you write down blocking and it accidentally makes absolutely no sense.
"Mi + Cnr stop at the end of truck, then stop."

Sometimes your notebook is the only place you can write down what your really feel.

Finished

November 16th, 2011 - April 2nd, 2012 = 138 days.

Outlander, A Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and An Echo in the Bone = 6,484 pages.

Me = a tiny little puddle of human, staring at the wall. I miss him already and he's fictional.

Nerd Princes

Lauren said tonight that she knows that someday she will eventually own the Princess Leia Slave Costume because she is planning on marrying her Nerd Prince, whomever he may be.

I think my Nerd Prince and I will probably read aloud to one another.