Lunch With Betty

Covered a lot of ground yesterday.  Had a lunch date with sister Betty scheduled for 1:00 at Olive Garden and thought I'd go a bit early to run errands first.  I don't know how I mistook time, but when I got on the parkway, I saw it was only 10 am!  Three hours early is really early, even for me.
However, it worked out okay.  I picked up Chardonnay at Canal's, various veggies at Produce Junction, and a few other things here and there.  Checked Target for a kitchen timer, but they had exactly the same that Wal-Mart did, but for fifty cents more.  I'm sure that kind dings only once and I need a more sustained ring to imitate an old phone for my play(s).  Thought of a bicycle bell and, to my delight, was able to find one that hits the mark--rings the bell--perfectly for my purposes.
I had gotten a nice sweater for Christmas which unfortunately didn't fit, so took it back to Macy's and got a gift card.  After a few more here and theres, met Betty and we had a nice lunch, thanks to the gift card Ellen had given me.  Talked to the very same during our Sunday Skype call and had a good chat.
Lunch with Pat M. today, then I have to make and bake an apple pie.

Lunch With Marilyn

Got to my lunch date with Marilyn M. early--the usual for me--after stops at the post office and library.  As ever, it was a pleasure to be with her and we caught up with each other happily.  We go a long way back--it's been about 35 years since we met at Rider and although Marilyn's twenty years younger than I am, we've always had a close rapport. 
Yesterday, she and I cooked up a little scheme concerning a friend of hers, whom I remember when he was at Rider, and my friend, Louise, from P. & P.  They're both single, Jewish, and "looking," so Marilyn and I thought we'd do a little match-making.  Whether that will ever pan out, considering they live at least fifty miles apart, is anybody's guess, but it's fun to speculate.
I just realized I had/have lunch dates yesterday (Marilyn), today (Betty), tomorrow (Pat M.), and Tuesday (Red Hats), and I have meetings on Wednesday and Thursday.  I also committed myself to making an apple pie for the RH luncheon.  Must check ingredients and start thinking about that.
    

Lulu And "Telephone"

It was a good day until the phone call in the evening.  My little granddog, Lulu, sixteen years old, had to be "put down," as the ugly saying goes.  I prefer the old-fashioned "put to sleep," a gentler description for a gentle little dog.  Lulu was a cockapoo, very pretty, with a blond coat and sweetly affectionate personality.  She was one of the few dogs I ever liked.  What a hole she'll leave in our lives!  I know it had to be--she was getting so feeble she could barely walk--but it's a cruel loss to my family.
Earlier, I was able to write two versions of a new play called Telephone for Players & Playwrights submission.  They were inspired by an old crank telephone hanging on the wall of someone I know.  That took most of the day and I still have to sharpen them up a bit.
In between plays, I drove here and there in search of a kitchen timer.  I want to it be the ring of the old telephone in the plays, so it has to be more than just one ring.  Didn't find one and when I came out of a store, I noticed a rear tire was going flat.  I almost panicked; I've never been attuned to anything mechanical, as they all seem impossibly complicated and unknowable to me.  However, I was able to get to B.J.'s where a very nice young man patched the tire (he showed me the culprit, a piece of metal) for only a small charge.  Got the rest of my errands done and went home relieved and happy--
--until the phone call about poor Lu.   

Lunch And Auditions

Bracketed the day with Aline:
Picked her up at noon and we repaired to Dockside for lunch.  Had 14-bean soup--but I didn't count them, so it could have been false advertising--and half a chicken salad sandwich.  Delish.
Again picked up my perennial partner for the Arsenic and Old Lace auditions.  It was at the remotely-situated elementary school in Barnegat where we had been before--strange venue--and in light of that misadventure (see entry of December 14, '12), we didn't have high hopes.
Well, what a pleasant surprise.  We weren't the only ones there--a young guy and three other women tried out, too.  Then who should walk in but Rick M.--hugs there--who was in YCTIWY with us, and Neil G. I found that confusing because Neil had announced that he was "starring" in Arsenic, but read various parts last night.  Well, maybe he was only sitting in.
Far from being the somewhat scatter-brained guy he seemed before, Lou was well organized and handed out nicely bound scripts.  He then assigned pieces of dialogue to different people on various pages.  Of course, Aline and I were asked to read for the kindly, but murderous aunts, and I think I came over well.
I liked Lou's direction style.  I've been directed by a number of people now: one was almost completely hands-off and had little constructive to say, being more concerned with the mechanics of blocking and so on.  Another tended to be silent if the actors did something right, vocal if he thought they erred, a style that never brings out the best in me.  The one I found most helpful was Tara M., who directed me in Steel Magnolias--seems like twenty years ago, but was only in May of 2010.  Tara emphasized the good and simply suggested improvements to the not-so-good, and was sure to praise when she legitimately could.  Lou proved to be that type of director and whether I get a part or not, last night I revised far upward my opinion of him.   

Errands And Such

As I suspected she would, the nurse practitioner referred me to a podiatrist.  Called him and have an appointment for the twenty-third.  I mentioned to the NP that I wanted to resume hiking and she asked about the outdoor club; said she and her husband would love to join one.  Then I referred her--to the OC web site.
Got a slew of errands run, which included stops at our clubhouse, Acme, the library, the bank, and the thrift store in Manahawkin.  I'm determined to clean up and clear out and wanted to be sure the latter is taking donations.  While there, I bought four Living and Simply Simple (or whatever) mags.  Will look them over, then donate them back.  I have such an overabundance of things to read, this seems more practical than subscribing to something else.  Wouldn't you know, though, that I bought two books at the library's on-going book sale.  Darn, I'm an addict.
Later in the day, caught up with friends and family on the phone.  Called Marge to see if she was up for a visit.  She was, so I walked over and we had a good chat.  It's always nice to talk to her, one of the few people I know with whom I can share thoughts and feelings--especially the latter--with perfect honesty.
Called my friend, Libby B., and we had a long, long talk (with Libby, the talk is always long).  She has stage 4 cancer that manifested itself initially in the lungs.  On a round of chemo now, but says radiation was the worst.  She was frank about the fact--she said--that it's incurable, but can be managed.
Betty called in the evening and we filled each other in on our exciting adventures, including exotic travel, erotic romances, and--uh, uh, "despotic" something or other?
Forget it, ain't nuthin' much going on with either one of us.

Decorations Down

Virtuous me took down and stored away the Christmas decorations and even got some space cleared in the garage.  Tidied up otherwise, too.
Called Lou M. and--strange group and stranger man--his wife answered.  After I told her my name, she asked me to wait, then I heard her tell Lou.  She picked up the phone again, then simply conveyed the information that auditions for Arsenic would be at six pm on Thursday.  He then took the phone and repeated the info.  Weird outfit.
Called A. and she wants to go, also.  It would be fun if we were both cast, but I'm not sure about her accent.  Well, that's Lou's problem, not mine.
Have a doctor's appointment in an hour.  I always like to make the earliest possible--less chance I'll have to wait--so this is at 7:15.  My foot, which has developed calluses along one side, has been bothering me for months. I assume I'll be referred to a podiatrist--okay by me.

Party And Plays

Got a bunch of errands done, both in Little Egg and Manahawkin, added some domestic chores, then just hung out with this and that on the last day of 2012. 
Continued to mull over whether to go to Tonya's party or not.  Called Aline and found she had already declined; she has a bad cold and was going next door to her neighbor's.  We made a date for lunch on Thursday at Dockside.
I was in a dilemma because I find it so hard to stay up past a certain hour.  Midnight, of course, would be difficult, and as I figure most years, the new one is going to come in whether I see it at the time or after a refreshing sleep.  Finally though, the light dawned: I didn't have to stay any longer than I wanted to, especially as I wouldn't have A. with me.   
Okay, it was decided.  I jumped in the shower, dressed, packed two Buds in my cold carryall, and took off for the party.
I'm so glad I did!  It was great seeing my theatre buddies again AND in talking to Desi S., I found that first, LETO is going to do the comedic The Thirty-Nine Steps in the spring.  There's no part in it for me, as you might call me  an--ahem--"mature woman," but I'm okay with that and even with the fact that Desi has already cast it.  (There are only four characters who play various roles.)
How is it I'm not grumbling and rumbling about Desi not holding auditions?  Because he told me he is also determined to finally, at long last, put on Hedda Gabler in October AND that he wants me to play the part of the aunt. 
Now this is a very meaty role in the dark Ibsen play and I had auditioned for it about five years ago.  Didn't get the part and I was told by somebody in the know that the only reason was because Desi didn't think my voice strong enough.  I've proved myself in a number of roles since then, and I guess Desi realizes that, especially since he directed me in Night Must Fall.
The other terrific thing that happened last night is that Neil and Judi G. were there and I talked to Neil about my frustrations in dealing with Lou M., the director associated with Our Gang Players.  Neil has been cast as the male lead, but according to him, the two aunties roles haven't been filled yet.  He gave me Lou's phone numbers and I'm going to track him down to see if I can even yet audition for a part.
I got to Tonya's about 8:00 and stayed about an hour and a half, just long enough to chat a bit with acting colleagues, have a beer, then say my goodbyes.  Fibbed and said I had another party to attend, a little white lie--or maybe a big black lie, but after all, it was the last day of the year and everybody's entitled to...
Oh, can it, Mimi!  You uttered an untruth just to make yourself comfortable and avoid admitting you didn't want to stay out any later.  Okay, that's more like it, and guess I should be contrite, but am I? 
Nah.