I heard some great news!

I got news today

one of my best friends of all time

got engaged to her long time boyfriend

and the friend that I went to England with.

Congratulations Kendra and Aaron!

(photo from Mel Little's wedding in June 2000)

1st Day of Rehearsal

Today was my first day of rehearsal as Stage Manager for Lunchbox. I felt a little nervous to start. I always do. New pressure, new people, new expectations and days of feeling things out to see who works this way and who works that way and how I fit in. After you figure it out you are half way thru the process and then it is over. Oh well.

It went well, and the first day is over. Now on to paper work, emails and phone calls.

My new lap top

I received my new lap top from Dell. I ordered it for work. If I can take a computer with me into rehearsals that aren't in a conventional place, such as the last show (in the basement of a community center) or this one (in the "theatre" space of the basement of a church). I can take my computer in and save myself a couple extra hours of work every night.

This lap top is one of the new ones you have all seen commercials about - you can choose its colour. I chose espresso. It is great. I love that it has a full size keyboard and a full number pad too. If I am doing paperwork on this thing I need to be able to type.

In other news: Stef and I chopped up another bag of apples tonight. We got another 2 freezer bags full of chopped, cored and skinned apples and 5- 1 litre jars of apples sauce, 3 apples with cinnamon and 2 apples and strawberry. Should be yummy.

Headshots

I received the disc containing the two photos that I chose for my Headshots. One of these will be put in the program and displayed in the lobby of each show I work on. I haven't decided which one to use, or if I switch between them. Theatre Calgary tends to hold onto your headshot and just hold onto it and reuse it for each show.

Which should I use for Theatre Calgary and which should I use for my current show at Lunchbox Theatre?

6 grocery bags of apples

On Sunday night I headed over to Jen's house to pick apples from her mom's backyard. They are huge, the size of your fist. Backyard trees don't usually produce apples of any size. So we picked 13 grocery bags full.

That is alot of apples. I took 6 bags full. Now many of the apples are bruised from an over zealous mom shaking the tree. So I figured that I would not get as much from a bag as I had to cut off the bruise. Not so. I cored and peeled and sliced 1 grocery bag full and made 2 pies and filled 6 freezer bags full of slices ready to go for apples in the future.

I plan to make more jam, and apples sauce and perhaps some apple muffins - but that will only use up a couple more bags. I have offered 2 bags to my aunt. But I am still worried that I will be stuck with a bunch of apples.

Any ideas for what else to make - preferably that I can freeze.

Not So Emergency Alarm

Today while working at my desk a 1st stage fire alarm rang. The Technical Director was in the office with me and we kept working while the alarm rang. The announcement told us to stay put while they investigate. One would think that the time we were given during stage one - we may have taken the time to prepare to evacuate. Not so.

The 2nd stage alarm started and the announcement said to evacuate. I decided that his would be a good time to go home for the day. I took the time to close my programs and shut down the computer, pack up my books and papers neatly and put them in my bag. After this time the Technical Director was still on the computer. We started making our way out, closing doors behind us, running into the couple of other workers still in the theatre.

As we moved into the lobby there were people everywhere. But they were not making their way to the exit. They were sitting having lunch, on the phone or just standing around. I headed toward the escalator and people were coming up. Alarms were sounding, lights flashing and a man announcing the evacuation of the building. As I walked out the door people were heading in off the street - I told them about the evacuation. One lady turned around and walked away, but the other two said "Oh well" and headed in.

Weird. I don't know what ended up happening cause I went home. But it was all very weird.

Lunchbox Theatre

THE DEATH OF ME

A Killer Comedy
By Norm Foster,
Oct. 8 - 27, 2007

Mon. - Sat. 12:10pm Thursday evenings: 5:30pm

When John bargains with the Angel of Death for a

second chance at life, he quickly discovers that fixing

the mistakes of your past is difficult, especially when

there are all sorts of new mistakes to be made.

Today was my first day at Lunchbox Theatre working on The Death of Me. It is a very funny little piece. If I haven't mentioned it before Lunchbox is a theatre that does shows at 12:15pm every weekday. They do a 45 min show for the downtown office crowd. It is a very neat idea. You bring in your bag lunch or what ever you would like and see a live show - usually a comedy or musical. What a way to brighten your day.

The company is over 30 years old, but the people running the place are young and fun but so far appear to be very on top of it. Not that I doubt young people, for I am one myself and feel that I am very capable. I just thought that with the longest running full time staffer has been there for two years they have their shit together. We will see how she goes.

I was in the office today for 4 hours and now plan to work mostly from home for this week. The office space they have given me is not large enough to have the computer monitor, keyboard and my script. All of those peoples integral to the process. So, here I come paperwork.

Day Nine of Nine

Today is my last day off before I just back into the crazy, and all consuming live of theatre. I am excited and nervous to start up with Lunchbox and don't feel like I have prepared enough. Oh well. That is what they are paying me for next week. That and I have had to much fun slacking off this week.

Derek and Rory were in town this weekend. We went out for breakfast yesterday after an interesting game of run around as they tried to secure tickets to the Riders / Stamps game. We drove them to the game and they seemed to enjoy themselves. The game didn't go well - but they did discover why people from Sask can drink. They need to in order to make it thru a game.

We went out for dinner and then the three of us drove Logan to work. I have never been in a cop car so he grabbed some keys and let us hop in. He wasn't on duty yet so we couldn't take it out for a drive or log onto their in car computer system - but it was still cool.

Then we headed out to Wildwood for a drink where the three of us ordered the sample tray of all of the beers that they brew. It was fun to compare and sip and discuss the flavours. Stef, Jason, Tyler and Raveigh joined us for a bit. Back to our place for a quick game of Wii and then had to put the pooped travellers to bed.

Today I want to finish up all the things that I really didn't get around to like I had planned. Let us review the checklist

- Prepare for starting prep week at Lunchbox Theatre
- Sew slip cover for the Haughey's pink and purple couch
- Complete Sarah and Tyler's Wedding Video

Okay, I did prepare a bit. Reread the opening of a guide to create my checklists for starting at a new theatre. Had the script emailed to me. Contacted equity (the theatre professionals association) to learn how much money I had to give them in order to work but for them to do nothing for me. But I didn't organize my shit - my literal stationary, binders etc to see what I need to replace. It is like starting school again.

I did complete the slip cover for the couch. And it looks really good I might add. It did take me three 8 hour sessions (including fabric shopping). But it is complete. One check mark for me!

I am not even close to finishing Sarah's wedding video. I have completed their Getting Ready segment. It will certainly be the hardest part because I captured almost two hours of video between the salon and her house. I got it down to 22 minutes. That is pretty damn good if I do say so myself.

I guess I did enough. Entertained, created and enjoyed. Couldn't ask for much more.

Health Claims

In July you may remember me getting the Gardasil Vaccine. And if you will remember it was sparked because we received a newsletter from Blue Cross saying that it would now be covered. So when they gynecologist and my doctor suggested it I did it. I sent in my claim and have been waiting for a huge cheque in the mail. Instead I received a letter saying that it wasn't covered. I just got off the phone with Blue Cross looking for an explanation. You are not going to guess what the reason is. It was administered in a doctor's office. Yup. She snotty lady on the phone said the drug is covered but not if you get it done at the doctor.
"So I am supposed to give myself the shot?"
"Uh, no. You could go to a clinic"
"So I am supposed to go to a walk in clinic or family planning clinic but my own doctor can't do it."
"That is right."

That is possibly the dumbest thing I have ever heard - just behind "yeah, we are Best Buy but we don't accept the Best Buy Credit Card."

Without the snotty ladies help I have figured out a way around this. Purchase at Shoppers and then take it to the doctor. It costs way more at Shoppers but I can claim it. The shot is a series of three. So the one that is already done can be claimed under misc expenses and it will mostly be covered. The next will be covered under my drug plan if they don't know the doctor did it. And the last will be in the new year so I should be able to claim it again - or if not - thru the renewed misc expenses which renews in Jan.

Now the problem with my glasses:

On Monday I decided enough was enough, I was going to tell Lens Crafters whats what. I got these glasses in Sept of last year. I have always felt that I was not seeing as well as I should for a new prescription. I have gone back 3 times and each time they have said they are the right prescription we can adjust frame if you would like. The one time they adjusted it so high on my nose (so that my vision was clear) that I looked ridiculous that I had them adjust them back and left pissed off. This time I was gonna have none of that. I realized after wearing my contacts the other day that the glasses were way off. I can see better with contacts that are 2 prescriptions behind my glasses.

We marched into Lens Crafters and told the first lady. She seemed not to speak English so she got someone else. That lady took my glasses and had a pow wow with several other ladies in lab coats. I was expecting "I am sorry, you have had them for a year, clearly your eyes have changed and it is your fault, not ours." When she returned she didn't do that at all. "The focal point of your glasses is in the middle of the frame but your eyes are lower than that. If you give me an hour I can replace the lenses. The only thing is I don't have the Featherweights in so I will have to upgrade you to Index lens." (which by the way is the lens I had wanted/ requested in the first place because they are way thinner than the coke bottle look I get without).

They fixed them and they are good now. We think that they pulled up my profile and saw who took the order in the first place. She was training and I remember feeling like I knew more about glasses than she did. This is the only good thing I have to say about Lens Crafters. If you are in need of glasses *Don't go to Lens Crafters!*

Day Two

Today is the second day of nine days off before I go back to my actual job, my career, what I have worked toward for so long, the reason I have to go thru summers of crap.

So far, yesterday, I uploaded Sarah's wedding onto the computer and solved major problem that has been haunting the stupid thing for weeks. My editing program auto saved three files that were each 10Gb to the hard drive. Deleting those saved almost half of the memory space. We also went out to Original Joes for drinks.

Today I did the laundry and hung out with Logan during the day. We did a little searching on the web for homes for sale. We looked at stuff downtown and places out by his district office (very far away from downtown. The express bus takes 30 min). For the same absurd amount of money we can buy a two bedroom house with garage or apartment style condo of 800 sq ft. Depressing. I think we will stay put for a little longer.

I have begun editing Sarah's Wedding and hope to complete it by the end of my 9 days.

Checklist for my time off:
- Prepare for starting prep week at Lunchbox Theatre
- Sew slip cover for the Haughey's pink and purple couch
- Complete Sarah and Tyler's Wedding Video

We will see how she goes.

No more

Ahhh... last day.

No more Shoppers Drug Mart

I am not gonna lie, I am not gonna miss it.

A pictural post

On Sunday was the Beatty Challenge. A golf tournament for my mom's side of the family. It almost didn't happen this year. There were whispers of people putting something together but my cousin Kari and I decided to take the reins.

High Wood Golf & Country Club, High River AB


Team #1: Uncle Bob, Lorne, Stef, Andy


Team #2: Stacey, Uncle Ron, Auntie Sharon, Lu

Team #3: Mat, Kari, Logan, Uncle Laird






Back to the club house for a prime rib dinner.





Then a quick drive to Uncle Bob & Lu's for some more drinks (perhaps some had enough already?)



Stacey certainly had enough


-drinking in the cart ................................. at dinner

-laughing fits on the deck


And the Winners Are...


Dad won a First Aid Kit ..............Logan won Stamps Tickets
for dangers behaviour ..................for longest putt
(cart accident)

3rd Place

2nd Place 1st Plac

Ripples become Waves

As per my previous post, Ode to Shoppers Drug Mart , I am not really enjoying my summer job. It is a place that makes me very angry. The photo lab is my little world, there is no one else but me that works in there. I am a bit of an anal person, things have to be my way when ever they can. People mess up my stuff, leave me notes like "the photo machine is broken" - no detail, information or who wrote the note. It really makes me angry. Monday was probably the worst day I have had at Shoppers yet. Tuesday was not really that much better. Wednesday I was scheduled with one other person - again. How many times have you gone into a store and only seen one cashier and one other person that is doing something else and you think "you could be over here helping". Well I am that other person. I have other stuff to do, like my job. When there is just the two of us for 8 hours I get very angry and frustrated.

So Wednesday I decided that I would be taking a personal day on Thursday. Because there is no one else around I had to leave a note.
To Whom It May Concern,
I will require/be taking a personal/sick day tomorrow, Aug 30.
I will not being coming in for my 8:30 - 5:00 shift.
Stacey.

I did this because I hate this place and I knew that by me not coming in it would really put the scheduling lady/supervisor in a rough place (she was getting her nails done in the afternoon). I wanted to leave a message because talking about it doesn't seem to do much. I did mean to cause ripples and have the big guys of the store ask questions.

When I came in this morning there were signs all over my lab saying that the photo lab would be closed until further notice. That it would take up to five days to receive your prints. It seems that she told everyone that I had quit. The other cashier that was supposed to be on knew that I was taking the day (I warned her) and she tried to tell her that I wasn't quitting. But she told everyone that I had. When I came in we had a chat about why I needed the day. I told her everything that I felt was necessary.

It seems that my attempt to make ripples made waves.

Finishing Touches

Logan and I have lived in our "new" apartment for just over 5 months. But like most people we have left our bedroom to be the last to decorate. Being an apartment we aren't allowed to make any changes to wall colour etc, so your only choice is what you hang on the wall. For a long time (since we were in our old place) I have had a collection of wedding photos that have not made it on the wall. I wanted to create a collage of frames. On our last trip to Ikea I finally picked up those frames.



Being the organized, anal person that I am, I couldn't just wing it. I couldn't just throw them up on the wall. I had to make scale sized frames and lay then out.



Like this:

Stef and I painted them last weekend.

And today we had the chance to hang them.

Yay Camping UPDATE

I stole some photos off of the other campers and thought some of them should be shared.

Jason, our little Mermaid.
The Build Team
One very fun event of camping was the extreme game of Bocci Ball. We played through our very large camp site, up the bath and into the field just beyond our site. Jason and I vs. Tyler and Stef. Jason and I won by one - 15 to 14.

Great food and great times

On Friday Stef and Dad joined us in Calgary to move Stef back here for the new semester. We spent Saturday at her place moving the last bit of stuff around.

Saturday night Logan's parents rolled in and we had a large feast of teriyaki chicken, corn on the cob and a sweet potato, parsnip, carrot medley. We played some board games and had some drinks while Logan was at work.

Sunday we met up with Andrea and Linda as well as Auntie Shelley and Uncle Gord for breakfast.

After breakfast off to Ikea with Janet, Stef, Logan and Jason.

Monday we wanted to try another new restaurant with the Kotlars. We gambled on The Garlic Clove. It paid in dividends. The food was the best I have ever tasted! Everyone ordered something different and ate every bite! I had Wobbly chops, I have no idea why the name, but it was pork chops topped with a garlic paste and apple syrup and a roasted apple. Oh My was it good! Even Logan's pasta with a tomato sauce and chicken and shrimp was the best I have ever tasted! Wow. If you are coming to Calgary check it out.

Josh Groban and Mercato

After camping we headed back to Calgary, with mom too. Our little caravan hit cow town in time for Mom and I to go see Josh Groban at the dome.

It was great. We had good seats, but both of the Haughey boys were working and were able to move us to better seats. Josh played for a full two hours with a full string orchestra behind him, as well as a regular band of grand piano, bass, cello, violinist, guitar and percussion with timpani. His voice is so rich. And he is so talented - proving it by not just singing but playing the piano and drums. I would see him again in a heartbeat.

Friday was Mom's birthday. So we took her out to a restaurant that we have never been to. We chose Mercato, an Italian restaurant and market. It was a different concept in eating with pasta being served as a first coarse and then the meat listed alone and order the side separate. The waiter suggested sharing. It was a great idea (and cost effective idea) but I think Logan went a little hungry.

An Ode to Shoppers Drug Mart

I hate you for the pants I wear
the grumpy people's nasty stares.
I hate you for the people in need
who don't see the sign, or just don't read.
The shit that happens everyday,
"I did this wrong, I don't wanna pay".
The drumming fingers and rolling eyes,
these people and things I truly despise.
A summer job that makes me say,
I hate you in each and every way.

Yay Camping

We had a great time in Regina and Deifenbaker. The weather didn't co-operate for the most part. It was to windy on Saturday and Sunday to get out on the boat. But we still had a great time. Monday we started packing up - at the same time it started heating up. People were dropping clothes all over the place. As we were putting everything away we decided that we needed to hit the water.



The Cast of Characters:

Jen Cris
Tyler Stef
Nicole Kenn
Jason Logan
Jason Logan
Jason And Me