Christmas shopping success!

Yesterday I only had a matinee and rehearsal was canceled. That meant I was done work by 4:00pm. So Stef and I went Christmas shopping. After rush hour traffic we made it to Chinook Centre by 5:00. We finished everyone on our lists (except my little brother as he is not the easiest person to buy for) and my mom. But Stef will finish mom today, we found what we wanted but it was not at the mall we were at. We were home by 8:30 having cranberry juice, plain chips and homemade dip. It was a good night!

That leaves Matt, Lorne and the purchase of Lindsay and Dan's gift (but you have already heard the story behind that). I even got most of Logan done. Woo Hoo!

I hope that you are all doing well with your Christmas shopping. I know that it may still seem for some of you. But I have been in a Christmas environment, with a Christmas tree and other such decorations since the middle of October.

Christmas shopping at The Bay

With my day off today we decided to do a little Christmas Shopping. First to Costco. We thought that it was a crazy idea. But it is so freaking cold here that there was no one there. We had a very pleasant experience at Costco. We took a leisurely stroll, looked at everything, and got in line behind one person. A great way to start the day - even though we did not end up with a gift.

Then to Market Mall to really shop. First to the Bay. Logan has a discount, so why not. Well, that store never ceases to amaze me in how it will iritate, (without giving away what we were shopping for). Lindsay and Dan are registered for their wedding - so we thought that would be a great place to start their shopping. We decided to purchase but have it available for pick up at their home store in Edmonton. The registry lady said "no problem but you don't pay us you pay that store."
"How?"
"We just send your Credit Card number and they ring it through."
"Can't we pay with Debit?"
"No"
Logan said to me "Well, can't use a third party credit card (visa or mastercard) and get a discount and we don't have a Bay card."
Lady "You can use your discount and your credit card."
Logan "Actually no you can't"
Lady "Sure I'll do it right now"
Logan "That is against store policy. I used to be internal."

So we decide to buy it right there and just wrap it up under the tree.
Lady "Ah, we don't have the one you are looking for in the quantity you want."
Us "Great"
Lady "Would you like something different, or perhaps one of what you want?"

Stupid Bay.

Another well deserved day off

Today is Monday once again. The only day in the week that I don't have to go to the theatre. However, I did bring a little work home with me. Sigh. I have to update my paper work.

I know that you don't want to hear me whine about the trials that this week has been. The only thing that I want to mention is that in this show there are three scenes with coffins. We have one very large coffin cart that totes them around the stage, and two coffins. One is made of plywood planks with nothing in it and is relatively light. No problem. The other, well the other is to belong to Jacob Marley. He was a rich man so his is much nicer (which means layers of wood) with metal handles. Oh, and did I mention that there is a body inside. There is a skeleton. So the inside has to be finished too. This thing ways a tonne. And Kelly (the other ASM) and I have to trudge it from one side of the stage to the other twice during the show. (I also have to dress said skeleton every show as they steal from him). This coffin is supposed to be the dug up Jacob Marley. So they have added "mud" and "roots" to the outside. These additions need to be permanent so they are created with a glue substance. These damn pokey bits have been giving us coffin bites. I have cuts every where, mostly on my hands and arms, from this stupid thing. And to make the end of my week the designer said that "he loves the look of the mud but there needs to be more - and way more roots."

Here is to cut up arms!

Christmas Carol long days

Twelve hours a day has slowed down to ten hours a day. I would be happier except that things don't seem to get better. We fix one problem with some technical element - and then something else that has been fine so far will go wrong. We are so busy troubleshooting that we aren't adding in the elements that are still not in the show.

If anyone is interested, the show is good right now. We have had two audiences. One was a student matinee and they really seemed to enjoy it. And last night we had a special showing to kids with Cancer and their families. They really liked it as well. So, even though from the backstage point of view the show could be better - give it a couple more days and it should be really good. By opening night (Dec 1st) it should be great.

But for now I have to get ready to go back to the dark whole were couple hundred pound rolling pieces of scenery will roll over my toes, coffins covered in dirt will scratch me up, and props bigger and heavier than me need to be lifted.... we will see if I make it out alive.

Many hours spent in a dark, cold theatre

I have just complete 3 out of 4 ten out of twelve hour days. That means that the rehearsal is 12 hours long but there has to be two hours worth of breaks (not including coffee breaks). They are long days.

When we moved out of the rehearsal hall on Thursday we were in good shape - for a rehearsal hall performance. But this show is full of technical elements. It was a little scary to add them. We worked very hard and got more accomplished in two and a half days than I thought possible. So last night we decided to really kill ourselves and do a full run of the show and add costumes. For anyone that has ever done a show you know that adding costumes means adding chaos. And we had not done a run in the theatre yet. A big leap to say that least. As stage management we were not expecting much. If we made it through the first act without anyone being seriously injured we were going to call it a success.

But to every one's surprise we kept on going. I expected the sound of grinding set pieces and then Susan the stage manager's voice over the sound system "STOP!" But it never came. We did a whole run of the play with only minor glitches and no stopping. I am feeling pretty good and much more relaxed about the whole thing. (Yesterday at supper I was pretty scared!)

The show is going to be fantastic. It looks unbelievable even if the show itself was crap. If anyone is in the Calgary area from this Wednesday to Christmas Eve I highly recommend it!

Feeling the spirit of the season

Tonight I feel as though Christmas is very soon. I am on the net searching for meal ideas for Christmas eve. We have Christmas lights up. I have plenty of Christmas baking. And we did another run of A Christmas Carol today. Only one more day in the rehearsal hall and then on to the stage for 12 hour days of tech. I have a feeling that I won't be feeling Christmas-y after tomorrow for at least a week. So while I was "giddy with the season" I thought I'd add a little flavor to my blog. (By the way there are so many quotes from the play that I am fighting the urge to add - as you all don't know the play).

Here is a picture of us last year

- our first Christmas Married -

in front of our first Christmas tree.

A day off

Nothing is new here. Just work, work, work. Logan and I had a successful day off yesterday. We hit up one store to do some Christmas shopping and had two great gifts for two people within minutes! Logan felt that because we had done so well we were done! I felt that because we had accomplished our Christmas shopping goal in an eighth of the time we should move forward and use the allotted time to get ahead. He disagreed. And as the driver felt that he got an extra vote as he was taking us to our next destination. We hit up the grocery store for the few things we needed for this week (namely meal to have away from home) and then back home!

At home of coarse there was plenty to do. (Maybe that is why I wanted to continue shopping). I did 7 load of laundry, a weeks worth of dishes and made supper while Logan napped on the couch. (I would have been a little more vocal about this injustice if he hadn't worked an overnight shift at the Bay downtown last night - where they pay him cash for this services.)

And then after supper we were feeling festive and hung Christmas lights. We now have a hue of blue through the entire place!

Long Week

Well, another week complete. Time really flies. I got to meet a Broadway composer and Broadway set designer this week. The composer is a little older and very friendly. We had a great time with him. The designer has only been here for one day so maybe we will get to know him better, but at this point seems a little preoccupied with his fast success to care about conversation with us. Oh well, the rehearsal process is still young.

Next week we are in the rehearsal hall for a few more days than then to the stage. As my family will attest - hitting the stage means very long hours and not seeing very much of family. 12 hour days can really take their toll on people. It is what I signed up for though. Things have been going well.

Yesterday after rehearsal we had a pot luck dinner party. It was great fun. This is a huge cast so we filled this actors house! Very good time, and I'm sure a sign of many more parties to come!

Today, grocery shopping, Christmas shopping, laundry and dishes.

New format

I have spent the last hour fixing my blog because I hit the button that allows me to reformat my blog more easily than before. I neglected to read that part that said that any formatting that I have already done will be lost. So I had to fix everything. So really - it looks exactly like what it did before. But mostly cause I wasn't ready to change it - just thought that if it would be easier when I am ready, great.

Rehearsals are going great! Long days but I am happy!

Nervous Night

Well, tonight we had our Home Visit with the Police. Last weekend the gentleman doing Logan's background check called to say that he would like to do our home visit either this Friday or Saturday night. We both are working days at this point (or at least Logan makes the schedule and can work days). So he said that he would check his schedule and call us back.

Days pass and no call to confirm which day. Wednesday he called to say that 7pm Friday night would be great. So Thursday we cleaned the apartment - less the dishes. We spend a couple hours just sitting and wondering what it was going to be.

Then this morning just after Logan dropped me off at work Logan called to say that he called to say that tonight won't work - how about this afternoon. By a lucky coincidence rehearsal ended at 3pm today. So 4:00 was the new set time.

Logan and I rushed home, tidied up and waited.

It ended up being great. We sat and had tea, some of my Christmas baking and chatted. It really ended up being another interview for Logan, but he talked to me too. Wanted to make sure that I knew what this was all about and that I was on board. It was okay. But as soon as he left we both had a big sigh of relief, poured a cup of wine and relaxed. We were both so nervous! But it is over from our end now. His file will be passed on to the selection committee that will decide if they want to hire Logan or not, and if they do if that will be for the very next class or later - or really - whatever they decide.

Almost there

Again referencing a previous blog - Logan's progress with the Calgary police is now the final stages. They have completed the background check - as some of you may know from your lengthy phone call with the officer. Now, all that is left is the home inspection. I have learned that it is less of an inspection and more of a visit. That will take place after work on Fri or Sat. And then when that is done - and he approves, all that is left is selection! That doesn't mean that he is hired yet. There are only so many people per training class etc. But all of the recruiting officers sit in a room and talk about their applicants. The file managers for each person represent you. His file manager seems to like him so let us hope that he fights for him! So everyone cross your fingers! (and hope that I get better so when he visits not only does he find a clean house - but a wife that isn't sneezing and coughing over everything!)

I am sick of being sick

Some days ago I wrote a little bit about the cold I was experiencing. Well, this thing is still kicking around. And better yet, it keeps morphing into bigger and better things. What started as a head cold, quickly turned into a check cold. And then to my delight - became the flu yesterday. Oh well.

My mom was in town and she took good care of me. She came to frigid little Calgary to take in the Dixie Chicks! We had a blast at the concert. I would have enjoyed myself a little more if I didn't feel sick to my stomach - but I did some lovely chair dancing.

And mom and I had the opportunity to do a little Christmas baking. I would have liked to do a little more - but when you are sick to your stomach - baking is not very appealing. So Sunday night mom and I had made batch of scuffles to rise and work on the next day. Being up all night - mom had to finish them herself.

FYI

If any of you that read my blog are interested (though if you are you probably received an email from Kendra or Aaron themselves), Kendra and Aaron are off to Central America and have a blog of their own.

You can find them at http://www.travelpod.com/cgi-bin/guest_login.pl?t=kna_adventure&u=kendranaaron&tweb_guest_password=&p=tpod

The Worst Cold Ever

So, when you live in Regina the weather is pretty predictable. It has a general arch. January is at the bottom with some of the coldest temperatures and worst weather, it slowly moves toward warmer (with Blizzards and stuff thrown in - but you expect that). It slowly moves toward warmer. Summer is got. August is the peak and it goes back down again - working its way back to January to come back up again. Really, March and October are really the only times when you don't know what to expect. Generally speaking of coarse.

Here in Calgary. Things are different. I guess I don't expect it to get that cold here. That, and when it does get cold it does so for such a short period of time that you forget it quickly. As a result, you are never dressed right. Regina gets cold, you bring out the winter coat, and mitts and put them on right away, you know what is coming. Here, I find that you are never dressed for the weather.

As a result I have caught the worst cold I have ever had! It took me down hard yesterday! And I was not the only one! Of the twenty people in rehearsal yesterday only five did not put up their hands when asked "who is not sick?"

As all good theatre folk do - remedies were passed around. The usuals, tea with lemon and honey, garlic, gargle with various things, different remedy teas, echinecea. But I heard a new one, oil of oregano. I was curious, so I looked it up and this is what I found:

• "used as a drug and herbal remedy since the time of the ancient Greeks and Chinese."
• "The most widely known and spread benefit of oregano oil is its ability to cure mild stomach problems. It is also well known for its cough-clearing qualities. However, Oregano has many other benefits, among these: exterminating fungus, digestive problems, migrane headaches, athletes foot, sore throat, breathing problems, drandruff (and other skin problems). "
• "Oregano is used as an herbal remedy for respiratory problems such as coughs and bronchitis, even though there is no scientific proof of its effectiveness on these conditions."

So for now, I will stick to my Tylenol Sinus, sleep and hot tea to cure what ails me - and leave the "pizza water" as one girl called it, to the actors.