Ah the mountains

One of the best parts about Calgary is how close the mountains are. It is also great when you have friends who have a family cabin in the mountains. The Haughey Brothers have a cabin in Canmore and on Friday we all decided that it would be a great idea to go out there for the weekend. So after Jen finished work on Sat Jen and her boyfriend Chris, and Logan and I drove out to Canmore to join Jason, Tyler and Craig. After hitting up the local liquor store we watched the Flames lose in overtime, then watched the movie Borat and hit the sack.

In the morning we walked downtown for brunch,

played games while it rained

and then BBQed.

We had a great time.

Happy Birthday Logan Earl!

Yesterday was Logan's 25th birthday. 25 is a big number. A quarter of a century!

He marked the day with a class to learn about Lateral Neck Restraints - a move that ranges in three stages from getting control over a subject to cutting off the blood flow to the brain so the person could potentially pass out.

Then home for supper with my sister, Auntie Shelley, Uncle Gord and me. I made a roast with mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, and grandma's pea salad. Stef brought over a cake, chocolate with caramel and skor bits with a Dream Whip frosting.

Logan is wearing the pants that I made for him. Soccer print feety pajamas.

Happy Birthday Logan!

I scanned this picture from the brochure we were given about the apartments. This is the mirror image of our apartment.

On the previous entry I had listed one web site - there is also the main page with a little more detail. Most people won't care - but I had a request.

Real Star Property Management

Rouleau Premium Apartments

Our little world just jumped up a few rungs!

We found a place. It is not one that I have mentioned before. It is next door to the Mansion and AMAZING! It is called The Rouleau and is Premium Apartments. And Premium it is. The building is owned by the same people as the Mansion (the one bedroom they showed us was on the main floor and had no balcony - so no BBQ - no good for us!). So I asked about the other buildings. They had a couple one bedrooms and were willing to show us. We opened the door and our jaws dropped!!!! The building is 18 months old so everything is brand new. The floor plan is great -

It is about 100 sq ft bigger than ours. Ceramic tiles in the kitchen and bathroom, beautifully painted walls and big windows! We were already in love with the open style when he told me about the walk in closet. And then the dishwasher. And then, wait for it - the in-suite washer and dryer. That is huge! It is on the 12th floor facing south. We are high enough to see over the close by buildings and are facing the street - not some dirty back alley.

It is so secure to! You need a key pass to enter the building or use the elevator or any other room. When you are buzzed in, the guest needs to get to the elevator and press a button in 90 seconds. Your key pass will get you into the building and only onto the floor you live on. There is also a gym full of equipment and an entertainment room. This room has a pool table and 62" TV and couches. You can use the room anytime - or book it for a party!

The location is amazing to. The Bow River curves around to the east of it and then south at the next block south. We googled the location vs our current location. From here to Theatre Calgary is 2.2km - the new place - also 2.2 km. Walking to work still works!

We are so excited that I think we won't stop smiling for a week!

Check out the web site. The 1st picture in the series is what our suite looks like. I think the other pictures are just of other peoples furniture. (And we don't have a fireplace.)

The Rouleau Premium Apartments

We are having great luck! (Knock on wood)

The first place that I mentioned on the last blog turned out to be great! The location is not the best, but it certainly isn't bad - just compared to our current place that is just blocks from downtown. But it was beautiful! The kitchen was all brand new - great hardwood, new fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen. Very nice. Not huge, but big enough. And the balcony faces south, away from downtown, not a great view into the back alley- except that there are huge pine trees blocking the crappy view! So it is very private and great. See the details here.

The other place, The Mansion, we see tomorrow at 1:00pm. Still a huge contender as the location is superior.

In all of the calls I have made over the last few days I have made many appointments to view. At the last minute last night we saw that I had made another viewing. I knew nothing about it off the top of my head, and no time to look it up. So we went in blind (not an easy thing for me.) It was also great! The two are so different. The pros and cons list is so close and back and forth. If we could put them together they would be the ultimate place. See those details ... oh wait... I just clicked over to the listing so I could link it an it now says rented - I guess he didn't choose us! Oh well, that is the market here. But is was a surprise entry. I guess we are back to two.

The link to The Mansion

New place

I thank you for the support out there in blog land (and by phone). The manager is abusing her power and we know it, we have called the management company but it doesn't take away from the fact that she is crazy. If she moved we would stay in our perfect little place - but as long as she is here we don't wanna be.

We looked at two places last night. Both were a bust. We were quite excited about the one place. Great location - a block from 17th ave, two bedroom, 720 sq ft and a 250 sq ft balcony - and laundry hook-ups. But it was the worst layout ever. The master bedroom was huge! The second bedroom was more of a den - fine. But the living room barely fit the couch, coffee table and entertainment center that the current tenant had in there. And the second was just a block from us but was dirty, gross and had shag carpet, avocado green appliances and harvest gold tub, toilet and sink. Gross.

But we are quite excited about two places. We haven't seen them but have driven by, seen pictures and talked to the people. Either will work - unless their there are major surprises.

This place is on 14th St and 26th Ave, is a one bedroom with 720 sq ft. It looks very nice and the guy is nice too. He owns the condo and is renting it out - which seems really appealing.

The other is called The Mansion. It is right on the river and next to two very high end apartment buildings behind and beside. Very nice - they just called.

We have been approved by both places - I think Logan being a cop really helps the application process. So we just have to see them both - the first tonight and the second on Sat - and then make a decision!

We are moving

Well, on Saturday night we had another run in with our Resident Manager. She has a little bit of a problem abusing the power she has been given. I may or may not have written about this before, but this is not the first time. She actually informed me that it was the 6th time she has told us to be quiet. Usually what happens is: we are in our apartment doing nothing terribly loud (eg, having a couple people over, watching a movie, climbing the stairs - or not, or even sitting at our kitchen table carving a pumpkin.) She came to the door and I answered knowing full well what was about to happen. We had a small argument where she would say something and I would repeat what she said with the accent on a different word. Dumb ***** "We all have to live here." Me "Yeah, we all have to live here." Needless to say the argument went no where. The last time this happened we called the manager of the building to let him know what was happening. This time she threatened me if I was to call him again, and then threatened me with a written warning.

So we got a written warning - and a fire under our butt to move. Can't live with a crazy lady with too much power living right under you.

So we have been searching for a new apartment and have 4 viewings lined up before the end of the weekend, one tonight. Wish us luck!

Catch up

So my first week of rehearsals with Quest Theatre on The Curse of Shri children's play is complete. It started off quite a bit of work. Then we started rehearsals and the first few days have been fun. And lately I have been feeling the difference between working in an A house (the most prestigious, largest and best paying venues) and Theatre for Young Audiences (close to the opposite of the previous bracket). Never the less, it is a job, I am the stage manager and it will look great on my resume, and an interesting experience in patience and planning (and keeping my mouth shut).

As a perk (and a long story I won't go into now) I was given the very odd stat. holiday, Family Day, off. This is the second or third year for Alberta to have Family Day and the first time around for Sask. And I don't think any other province has picked up this odd three day weekend in February. On this occasion Logan and I decided to go home. Further to that long story mentioned above, I flew home on Saturday night. Logan and two friends of ours; Jen and Jason, drove with Logan on Friday after work. We had a great time. Not near long enough to see even half my list of must sees - but it was short notice and I was there for only one full day.

We had a good time at the Kotlar's for a early birthday party for Logan on Saturday night:

Above is Dad doing his drunk giggle, Stef laughing and Owein being embarrassed for the both of them.

Sunday we spent the day visiting. Stef and I went to Lisa & Curtis' and got to try out the New Nintendo Wii. Good fun.

And then Sunday night it was over to the Glass House. For much boozing and a little bit of the game Pit.

This is Jason and I after we feel off a stool...

... trying to take this picture.

Going home is always a good time! Especially when you wake up Monday morning and have to drive home with Sambuca shots still rolling in your belly!

Catch Up!

To wrap up my time on The Retreat From Moscow I will add some pictures to my blog. Here you will see Gina Moe the Stage Manager and myself.

And here Mr. Duncan Ollerenshaw - Calgary Actor, Ms. Martha Henry - First Lady of Canadian Theatre primiarily of Stratford Festival, and Mr. David Scherman - of Shaw Festival. If you Google the two latter names you are sure to see the amazing career that they have had - and I have had the opportunity to work with them. Yeah for me!

A Short Blog From Log

Wow, my first time "blogging". don't like talking about my training because it seems like it's all I ever do, and I don't want to be one of those people that other people say 'shut up about the cop thing already...'. Here goes:
I love it. The people that are in my group are great, and so are our instructors. The instructors are very level-headed and make us do very difficult tasks, but always include an explanation as to how this will help us. The majority of Police officers are great people. We are told what we can and can not do constantly, but they throw in a side note of "but if there are kids involved, do whatever you can", letting us know that we may be sued civily for our actions....but would you want to save a child's life and get sued, or let one die? It won't seem like it when you get your speeding ticket (I have lots!), but most cops really want to help. I know I have been sitting at a red light and a cop car will turn on the lights, blow through the light, then turn them off again and I thought 'fresh batch of doughnuts eh??' but now I think....I wonder if that guy has a 1 month old baby at home and is enroute to a sids death, or rape-home invasion.
I'm just lucky that I have Stacey and my family and God to keep me flying steady.

First time bloggin'....hmmmm. It was ok, but don't hold your breath.

Happy Valentine's Day

Who says red wine and pizza don't go together?

Logan and I both worked until 5 today - and then there is the drive home. Did I complain about that yet? I hate rush hour. Since we have moved here I have either walked to work - or when I was working at Westjet - was going the opposite direction of rush hour the whole way. Well, by time we make it home it is 6:00. And I had forgotten to take out the steaks we were planning on having for supper. So Logan wanted pizza. So pizza it is. Panago pizza and red wine. We were also planning on having a little fondue with the chocolate and fruit we have in the house. With both of us working early mornings it is hard to say if we will be awake enough to feel hungry for dessert before we go to bed.

Hope you all told your Valentine's you loved them!

Nothing new

There doesn't seem to be anything new to report, but I haven't written in a while so I thought that I should. Today is the first day of the last week of The Retreat from Moscow. I have also started prep on my next show The Curse of Shri - a children's show with Quest Theatre. I am the stage manager on this one and am starting to feel nervous. All the work is on my shoulders, not just assigned to me by someone else. Oh well. I have spent many hours today (and right now during the show) typing out the script. I was given a copy that has rewrites in pencil all over it. I tried to scan it in, but if you have ever tried text recognition on a scanner you will know that if you type quickly it is just as fast to retype. But it is time consuming. Good thing it is short!

Homesick

I haven't been home since the last weekend of August. This is the longest I have been away from home - correct - Regina. Even when I went to England it wasn't this long. I see my sister about once a week, and my mom I went to Vegas with in Oct and she came to Calgary for the Dixie Chicks in Nov, and my brother came for his birthday in early Dec. But I haven't seen my dad in forever! Or my grandparents. Family is so important. I especially feel that this has been a long time because we all used to get together on Sunday. Sometimes both families in one day, Church and then brunch with the Glass family and then supper with the Beatty's. And everyone in the city would be there. It is what I have come to think of as Sunday. I haven't had a Sunday supper in I don't know how long. And we are having one tomorrow. Auntie Shelley is cooking and I only have a matinee with no evening show! Yeah family dinner. It will be nice.

Proactive Defensive Driving Coarse

Now that I have gotten over feeling bad about not paying attention to the show I can tell you what I did today. I went to a Proactive Defensive Driving Coarse. Most of the people were there because they wanted to reduce their demerits. I was there because the next show I am working on is a in city tour - and I have to drive the company van.

What a waste of eight hours. Sitting in a room with delinquents talking about the cons of speeding and drinking and driving. All I really walked away with was a renewed sense of how dangerous it is to drive. Like I needed a reminder. I am living in a city of a million people that has outgrown it's current roadways long before they thought - and we had a huge dump of snow yesterday and it is like the people of Calgary have never seen it before! (it took me over twenty minutes, not in rush hour to get from home to work - I can walk there in that time) I am already afraid for my life when I'm behind the wheel.

But the long and the short of it is, I got 98% on the end of class test, got the certificate and will be able to do my next contract. As a bonus, if I get any demerits in the next 2 years this coarse will erase them - and the company paid for it!

In the middle of a show

Well, this show doesn't have a lot for me to do. When I sit back stage I sit right outside the head stage carpenter's office. This show is so slow that he is on a two week leave to go back and work for Cirque de Soleil. They have brought on someone else. He quickly realized that there is nothing to do and is sitting in the green room reading. So I thought I'd jump on the computer and check out what everyone else in the world is doing - via blogs - but feel a little bad about blogging myself. Oh well, the last show and my next show will make up for my slack performance on this show.

Milestones

Way back in 1999/2000 Logan and I were in Gr. 12. In the first semester of that grade we did the musical Grease.

(in the very bottom center you have Jeff (Danny) dipping Shelly (Cha Cha) - right behind them is Logan in the suit with one arm up and I am directly to his right in the champagne dress. (Kendra is directly to my right, Amanda is behind Logan in the bright pink dress, Stef is right behind her in the black top with red scarf in her hair, Lisa is at the bottom right with the white skirt/blue shirt...)


Our music teacher takes credit and great pleasure in the fact that she matched Logan and I up. I was Marty (a pink lady) and he was Sonny (a T-bird) - (they end up together in the end) - and so did we.

Move forward to January 28th, 2000. Logan and I went on our first date. We went on a double date with Derek and Teri to a movie at the Cornwall Centre. (We were talking and we don't remember what the movie was.) Then we all went back to Logan's house and the two boys had flowers for us there.

That was seven years ago. Seven years! At the same time it feels like a million years ago - and as though it was only yesterday.

30 minute meals

A while ago I was given 2 Rachael Ray cookbooks, both variations on her 30 minute meals. Last week I sat down with one and chose meals I wanted to try and went to the grocery store to stock up with those recipes in mind. They have been great. They have actually taken only 30-40 minutes to make and are so tasty. I highly recommend her to anyone who has not yet discovered her magic!

Rachael Ray

Opening and cop stuff

*** UPDATE****
The puke run was supposed to be yesterday. They all arrived early to the classroom dressed to run (and puke). They had a little lesson on the chalk board about how the run would go etc. Then they said that they were going to go for a nice easy run as a group - choose a partner... no puke run. I am just worried that they will spring it on them. That is something I would want a little warning on, some prep time.
*****************


Opening went well. The show was fine. Once I am preset there isn't a lot for me to do. The show is three actors on stage for the whole show - they don't leave and there are no scene changes. Everything that needs to be done/changed they have to do themselves. But it seems to be going well. The audience likes it and that is all that really matters.

Nothing else new to report. Logan is loving be a recruit. They are working him hard (physically and mentally). He is learning tons of great stuff - and lots of fun stuff that he teaches me when he gets home. Lots of interesting obstacle courses and physical training too. Some that doesn't sound very fun to me! On Tuesday there is a thresh hold run. Basically, they run from the cop shop downtown to the enter street bridge and Memorial Drive (very close to our house and our huge hill) they run up the steps leading you from Memorial to the top of the bridge - at the top do 30 push ups and back down. Repeat until you puke. That is right - go till you puke. The idea (apparently) is to see how much you can actually do (instead of when you might stop). Weird. Not really my idea of a good time - but we will see how it goes. He tells me that they aren't doing it individually, they have to run in a group. So really you are only as strong as your weakest link - so maybe he just has to wait for most of the others to puke. Weird.

Tomorrow is opening

Well, I have made it. Tomorrow is Opening Night! It is such a huge relief to be at Opening. When you hit that big day you no long have to worry about changes or rehearsal. You are strictly in a show state - and with this show that means just evenings. I show up for my show call at 6pm. Empty the dishwasher, clean up the green room from the night before, make coffee, prep the consumable food, preset all of my props, double check everything is in the right place, check in with the cast, check in with the crew, then there is the half hour call (7pm) at this point we can not go on stage as the main curtain is not in for this show. We open the house to the audience at half hour. At the 5 minute call I get on head set and wait for the actors to join me at their entrances. They are given their go - and on with the show.

Video Editing

From previous blogs (here, here and here to name a few) you will know that I really enjoy video editing. I spent a lot of time editing my own wedding video, as well as Lisa & Curtis' wedding and Lani & Regan's wedding. Since Christmas I have been editing our Christmas video and I really like it. Even though it frustrates me, and takes way to much time, I like the pay off. I have thought about trying to make a side job out of it. Mostly when Logan and I were the official videographers for The Calgary Jewellery Gala. We videoed the set up, they transformed of an army gym into a elegant ballroom. We got paid to do it, and I think that it is pretty good. I am just not sure how to go about it. I guess, a little more practice with the actually shooting could help. Stef's friend Sarah is getting married in June and I hope to get to Regina to practice.

I also thought that maybe I should take a class on editing with my extremely advanced program I'm using. I found one at Mount Royal but it is only a six hour beginner class, and I have probably already figured out on my own everything they could teach me in six hours. Well, we will see. I will keep practicing and experimenting on my own and see where life takes me.

Tech week is over- bring on the audience

Tech rehearsals are long and stressful. The problem with the technical rehearsal is that they are 12 hours long. Also, in rehearsal, everyone and everything is visible. You can anticipate what is going to happen next because you are sitting beside the stage manager and director. When you move into the theatre the stage manager and the director are sitting in the audience, the actors are on stage and the assistant stage manager(s) are backstage, behind the curtains. It takes a huge amount of effort to stay ahead of what is going to happen. In the case of this show, there are only three actors and a lot of words and they are not completely ready to do it on their own, so I have been sitting "on book" to supply lines when needed. But at the same time I need to have all the props in the right place at the right time. I am also the liaison with all of the new tech crew. In rehearsal I am the wardrobe lady, stage carpenter and all of the tech crew. Once on the stage I need to let them know what it is they need to do. On top of that you need to be prepare at any time to run out on stage to troubleshoot, move set/furniture/props to a new place, or spike (place tape to mark when something needs to start or be moved to). To sum up, tech days are long and hard because I have to give 100% concentration for the whole time. Nothing is more tiring than having to concentrate for a full 12 hours - and this show is worse because there is not a lot going on. Christmas Carol was busy so it went really fast. There was always something to do. On this show I do a lot of sitting around and waiting. Which makes those 12 hours longer. I am just glad it is over. Now we are on to shows!

I have house envy

It seems as though I have grown up. The other day I was thinking about how Logan has just started his career as a cop. And thinking about how people we grew up with are now Fire Fighters, Teachers and all sorts of grown up things. And that last summer we went to four weddings. Four couples joined their lives together, as we did; what a grown up thing to do. And even more so they are now buying houses and having babies. It is funny how time just slips away from you and now we are all grown up.

This got me to thinking about houses. I am fine with our little apartment on the hill. But many of our Regina (and other city) friends own homes. To make matters worse, two friends here in Calgary are looking. Their parents are looking for the ever popular investment in real estate. So these two are starting the hunt. I am jealous. I want to be looking for a house. But who can really afford that in this city. I went looking and found that in an article from December 5 "According to figures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board, a typical single-family residence sold for $394,712 last month...dropp[ing] below $400,000 for the first time since May...which marked a 36.4% hike over the same time last year." Holy Crap! You could buy a pretty spiffy house in Regina for $400,000. And they are saying that this is the price coming down.

Oh well, our time will come. I'm not really wanting a house right now, or rather, a mortgage payment right now. I'm just jealous.

The long lost gift certificates

For our 1st anniversary our very kind siblings gave us gift certificates out to dinner. Andrea got us one to Boston Pizza and Stef and Matt got us on to the Keg. As they were anniversary gifts we wanted to save them for a special occasion or a nice night out together. And because of this we never got around to using them. When we were looking for something to do for New Year's eve we decided that would be a good time to go out to the Keg. We had a fabulous dinner - thank you Stef and Matt. And tonight we used up the other. We out for dinner to Boston Pizza (on the Red Mile). Thank you Andrea. I just thought I'd let you each know that we have used the gift certificates and appreciated them.

Nothing new

There seems to be nothing new at our place. Things have found a rhythm. Logan gets up and goes to work/school around 7am. I stay in bed until the much later alarm call of 8:30. Logan goes to his police class, I go to the theatre. He finishes around 4pm and I finish around 5:30. We come home, make some supper and sit around a bit. Then Logan starts to get tired and tries to go to bed early. I have been allowing this - even though I am a night person. It is 9 right now and he is off getting ready for bed. And then we will get up and do it again tomorrow.

Exciting - I know. I can hardly convey the excitement on the page. Oh well. Routine is nice. For a while. I look forward to my next contract. I will be working with Quest Theatre as a Stage Manager. They do theatre for young audiences. I will be working with three male actors in a show call "The Curse of Shree" and it will tour Calgary and area schools teaching kids about music. On that contract I will have weekends off. Logan and I will both have weekends off together. It has been a long time since I have had weekends off. Since we both have had the same days off together! Can't wait for Feb.

Day One down

I picked up Logan shortly after 4pm yesterday, just down the street from the downtown Police Headquarters building. He had piles of books and papers, not to mention his duty bag full of goodies. He couldn't stop talking about all that he had learned. And yet, he felt like they had tried to jam so much stuff in his head in one day that none of it had stuck. I think that he quite enjoyed himself.
It will take some getting used to though. It has been a long time since he has been in school. The classroom setting calls for a very different sort of energy. A lot more brain power than one is used to using in a day. He said that his head hurt from cramming so much in.
He was pretty excited to go back today. I think that it will be a very interesting six months.

Today is the first day of a new career

Today is Logan's first day of training with the Calgary Police. Yesterday was his last day as a civilian. The first order of business this morning was to swear all the new recruits in. He is now officially Constable Kotlar. He has to wear his uniform every day and everything. I can't wait for him to come home so I can hear all about his first day.

Boxing Day Special

Logan and I had been thinking that we needed a new digital camera. So we headed out during the Boxing Week sales. Our first stop was Futureshop. We were looking at a couple cameras at the counter when the salesman told us he had a couple of the cameras that we were looking at were available for less because they were out of the box. He got really excited when he pulled out this camera. A Kodak z650. He said that someone got it for Christmas and had returned it without even opening the plastic packaging, just the box. So we bought a $300 camera for $200. 10x optical zoom, 6 mega pixel beautiful new camera. We are very excited. It was a great deal. The only thing that beats a great new camera, is a great new camera at great deal!

They easy way to a four day weekend

As you may or may not know, in theatre you don't get weekends, you get Monday. And that is it. Since Oct 17 I have only had one day off at a time - except when I was given the gift of Christmas Day and Boxing Day off. Yesterday night I took a Nyquill in the hopes that it would knock me out, I'd get a good sleep and wake up feeling rested and cold free. This of coarse was wishful thinking. I slept horribly and woke up worse than when I went to sleep. So I called my stage manager and she knew before I asked that I wasn't coming in. "Take today and then you can be ready tomorrow for a run of the whole show. Or at least be well enough to come in and tell me how to do your job." Well, it seems that the three actors in the show were not interested in my germ covered body coming into work today. So last night I got a call saying "Take tomorrow too. Oh, and the director has decided we should all take Sunday off to rest up before we move into Tech rehearsals." So I am now on a four day weekend. Which is nice in theory. Except that I am coughing, sneezing and blowing my nose constantly. Oh well. Four days of sitting in my pajamas on the couch should fix that.

Sick again

I think that next year I am going to get the flu shot. I have a bad cold/flu again. I was struck down at about the same time in the rehearsal process during A Christmas Carol. It really sucks being sick.

Christmas Pictures

First, to give some closure to A Christmas Carol. I had a great time working on that show despite all of the drama that accompanied it. And believe me that show had more than its fair share. The two ladies that I worked most closely with were Susan (the Stage Manager) and Kelly (the Assistant Stage Manager). For our last Christmas Party the three of us planned a Secret Santa Party - but with a twist. Secret Santa Goes to Hawaii.

Susan on the left, Kelly in the centre and me on the right.

Next, Christmas Eve. The highlight here was pulling out all of the Christmas baking that Janet and I had made - and realizing, as many do, that we had made way to much. This picture is to illustrate the enormous pile it was.

On Christmas Eve the Kotlar family tradition is to open one present, and it is something to do with sleep wear. We changed into our pj's and played the new game Outburst Remix.

Christmas morning came early enough (but not to early - thank you Kotlars!). We opened present and then ate breakfast. This is a shot of me opening the beautiful necklace Logan gave me.

For Christmas Dinner we prepared a "Pre-stuffed, Cook from Frozen, Butterball Turkey". It was great. It took almost no work at all and tasted fantastic. This is a picture of the bird right out of the oven. Even the stuffing was great!

We had a great time! And my first time ever Boxing day shopping. There are some good deals. But you have to learn the tricks. Assess the store before you enter. If they have the doors half closed and are only letting in a few people at a time - keep moving. If that is okay - check the sale. Not all stores are giving things away. If it will be that price next week -keep moving. Lastly check the line to the till. If it is too long how fast is it moving. Us three ladies were very successful and in and out in 2 hours!

January 2nd

The tree is still up but it doesn't feel like it should be. Christmas was only a week ago yesterday. A week ago today was just Boxing Day. And yet it feels like a million years ago. Or even that it didn't quite happen. I have been back to work for a week now. The first week of rehearsals for my next show "The Retreat from Moscow" is complete and today we start week two. Time is sure flying. I imagine that we will take down all the Christmas gak in the next couple of days. It is always sort of depressing. December is such a great month, just writing December on something is sort of exciting. Writing January has no thrill. But there is a sort of neatness that comes with taking down Christmas decorations. Everything feels neat and clean and uncluttered.

Here is to all of you as you take down your own Christmas Decorations! Have that last cup of Egg Nog (or throw the bad stuff down the sink) and some left over Christmas baking.

Christmas!

I hope that everyone had the happiest of Christmases. We certainly had a good time. It was the first Christmas I spent away from my own family so it was a little sad. But we had a good time here in our little one bedroom Christmas Wonderland. If I knew where the camera was in this mess of a place I would post some pictures. But there are gifts and decorations and candies of all varieties in different vessels strewn about making the search near impossible. I hope that Logan took it with him to Regina. My hubby joined the convoy and drove home today with his parents and Andrea. (Let's try this again, they have all asked for their names to come up in the blog: Janet Kotlar, Lorne Kotlar, Andrea Kotlar.)

We had a fantastic time! I hope you all did too! I can't wait to hear all of your tales of Christmas!

The day that we have waited and planned for is upon us.

It's a very busy time of year.

Well, we have set up the tree. We were actually setting it up when we got the call from the police. So it went from us setting up the tree, to me setting up the tree. That is okay, he was busy talking to everyone we know on the phone.

I like our tree. It is live. It smells great. Sitting right beside it makes me feel Christmas-y.

On our first Christmas, just last year, we decided that we would start our very first Christmas tradition. And that would be that every year we would buy ourselves a new ornament. Something nice, something special. So last year, we bought ourselves one and each of our parents bought us one. I like this tradition. We will be able to have a tree of beautiful ornaments later on that all mean a little something.

And when our kids get older they can look at the ornaments and say "2006, you guys are old. That was sooooooo many years ago!"

This is the ornament we bought for ourselves.

This is the ornament from my parent's for our 1st.

And from the Kotlar's.

And the one that we bought for this year. The little sleighs each say our names.

HUGE NEWS!!!

I am sorry that I am telling so many important people in our lives this fantastic news over my blog. But we have been on the phone all day giving the news.

Logan has made it through selection

he has been hired by the Calgary Police

and begins training on January 8th!!!

We are so happy. This has been a year long process to apply. And Logan has been working toward this for so many years! Const. Kotlar very soon!

A much better review in the Fast Forward

There is a paper here very similar to the Prairie Dog back home called the Fast Forward (which has a much wider distribution). They had a very pleasant review of our little ditty. I will search for it and add the link once I find it. It was very positive about the story telling and all around a good review. The link to the review is Fast Forward Review

The show is going well. Now that we are opened and we don't have to rehearse before or after shows I have a little time. I even got a chance to ice the sugar cookies I made the other day. But I made way to much icing (not really my fault, the food colouring exploded as I tried to open it and instead of adding a few drop of blue to deepen the hot pink into something closer to red I got screaming purple. Who needs purple icing for Christmas cookies.)

My brother Matt is in town this weekend. He turned 18 on the 21st. He is here to celebrate at the legal drinking age. We went to the pub Limerick's last night. I'm not sure where tonight. But I have two shows, so I will have to catch up.

Christmas Carol Review

Well, the show has opened. It has been a long haul. But for the foreseeable future we don't anticipate any more rehearsals. Just show calls. And that is such a relief. Eight shows , six days and 40 hours a week now. Sounds like a great deal after all of the work that I have put in.

The show was reviewed by a couple of mediums. The ones that I have located are from the paper. The Sun and Herald. They are interesting. The show that I last saw in rehearsal is very different now. It is full of pretty pictures - but I have been wondering about the story. The real emotion. I find that these reviews are a little different in opinion. Here are some of the highlights. I have also included links to the full reviews.

The Herald Review
Remaking a Christmas classic; Why Theatre Calgary risked giving Scrooge an entirely new look

The Sun Review
'Christmas Carol' a visual feast

The consistent talk about the size, scale and wow of the set.

Theatre Calgary's new version of A Christmas Carol is a world-class visual
spectacle... Magnificent sets are a joy to behold and even more
awe-inspiring when they begin to move. -The Sun

Sets, costumes, music, and script -- most everything about the company's
$600,000 production of A Christmas Carol promises to cast the immortal Scrooge
and his journey from dark loneliness to epiphany in a brand new light. - The Herald

The cityscape of Victorian London is a panoramic old photograph with
panels that glide out to become the interiors of homes. Scrooge's office
descends from the ceiling while his bedroom rises from the floor. The
ghost of Christmas Past (Christian Goutsis) appears in an alcove above
Scrooge's fireplace which opens up to allow a beautiful old sled to glide in
during a flashback moment. The jovial ghost of Christmas Present
(Kevin Rothery) rises up through the bed while the eerie ghost of Christmas
Future (Gerald Matthews) is part of the massive city clock suspended above
the stage. - The Sun

The Script

"Patch manages to tell the story in a more accessible way than hitherto," says director Dennis Garnhum. "He doesn't twist things too much, but makes everything clearer. - The Herald

Stephen Hair, taking on the role of his 13th consecutive Scrooge for Theatre Calgary: "I love this script. Yes, I come with a whole provenance of stuff from so many directors and so many different scripts about who Scrooge is. But I've always been trying to find the humanity of the man -- the real person." - The Herald

The SunThe production is not without its problems, most of which are rooted in Jerry Patch's bleak, pretentious adaptation. It is not particularly kind to
either Scrooge (Stephen Hair) or Tiny Tim (Sam Duke), the crippled boy whose
plight does most to soften Scrooge's heart. Until Scrooge's experiences at
his nephew's party, Hair seems more an observer than a participant in Scrooge's
visions and Tiny Tim isn't given nearly enough focus even in the scene at the
Cratchit family dinner. - The Sun

The Story

The energetic Garnhum says, obviously warming to his subject -- "I feel a great
responsibility to the children, and the fact that for many of them this is
going to be the first thing that they see in their lives. - The Herlad

"A Christmas Carol is a funny piece because it works on two levels," Garnhum points out. "First, there's the spectacle of the storytelling that the children in the audience, and the child within all of us, connect to. But it's also really the story of a man going through a mid-life crisis, and that's why adults connect to it. And I think it's important that I direct it for both audiences." - The Herald

The Sun The adaptation ... fails to realize this is a tale for children and the child in all of us. It plays more to adults and prides itself in having a preachy academic veneer. Theatre Calgary's A Christmas Carol needs to dazzle the heart and funny bone as much as it does the eyes. - The Sun

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.