Show and So On

Not a lot going on before leaving for the show, aside from domestic chores.  I also went through old magazines (mostly from the forties) to see which would be fun to display.
Frank drove, we picked up Aline, then got to the Community Center in plenty of time.  I spread the mags out on a table, along with the sign I had made ("Enjoy viewing, but please don't handle. Property of Rosemary Molloy") which, I learned later, was widely ignored.
The show went well, although the audience wasn't as large as I had hoped--maybe two-thirds of the seats were taken.  I was annoyed with Bob, who missed his cue and allowed some dead space, but aside from that, it was okay.
My friend and her husband were there, along with Ed S. and Sharon Somebody from Players & Playwrights, both of whom I was happy to see.
Last show at the matinee today (2:00 pm), then we have to strike the set and there'll be a cast party at the H.'s after.  Darn, Frank isn't going to the party, so I asked him to drop me at home first; I must as well change before the party.  
I was delighted to be treated to several more videos and still pictures of the little dynamo in Tokyo.  He's growing by the day, and is such an active, interested, inquisitive little boy--what a sweet baby!

Vivian, Veggies,and Opening Night

I did walk (with Susan, of course) and what's more, I went to exercise.  Before that, Mike called back and I got to see adorable, six-year-old Violet, whose big news was that she's going to be in a ukulele concert soon.  I can't even imagine a whole evening of ukulele music, but hey, I'm a cultural Philistine from way back.
Violet soon had to go to bed and I got to talk longer with ten-year-old Vivian.
Now I'm her grandmother, of course, but I think almost anyone would recognize how beautiful she is.  I've asked her several times if she had make-up on, because her lips are so red.  She has very fair skin, very dark hair, perfectly shaped features, and a slender, lithe, athletic body.
What's more, Vivian is bright and inventive.  She was wearing a "tie-dyed" shirt--I had sent her a tie-dye kit for her birthday--and it looked very sixties cool.  She showed me her new Iphone and we had a lot of laughs comparing it and its "apps"* to my five-dollar (it was on sale; usually $14.95) TracPhone.  We had to say goodbye soon, though, as they were going out for dinner. (Singapore is 12 hours ahead of the eastern U.S.)
Didn't have breakfast until almost ten.  After that, I washed and trimmed the four or five pounds of sweet potatoes I got from the farm and put them to roast in the oven with lemon slices over. Pared and cut the turnips and put in a dish; oiled and seasoned chicken leg quarters, froze some and put another in the oven with the potatoes; had it for lunch.
Opening night went well.  The house was about three-quarters full, not bad for Friday.  Kevin did a credible job substituting for Frank and there were no large snafus.  I forgot to tell Kevin he was also to deliver the few doctor lines, but George, on stage at the time and realizing that, stepped in like a trouper and said them. At one point, he conversed with himself as his other character, Singing Jim.  But that's the beauty of a show like this: The pretense is, the radio audience doesn't see the actors anyway, so players can do several roles at once.
Got lots of laughs and a good amount of applause.  Susan and Walter were there, along with Mary-Jo, Pat, Lee, Bessie, and a few more.  I talked to them after and they were very enthusiastic.  Saw others there from Sunrise Bay, also.
Dayle and I were delighted to see Louise from the P & P group, who was looking great with a new hair style.  She stayed after, also, and we had a great time chatting.
As soon as the audience was gone, Ron's wife (I directed him as  Marty, a lowlife thug, in the Shadow segment) brought out a big cake with candles, as it was his birthday, and we all sang the traditional, then enjoyed the cake.
It's during times like this that I realize how big a wrench it will be to leave here.
* I hate using that stupid, trendy, 1984-like bastardized English abomination non-word, but I can feel myself drowning in a sea of verbal meaninglessness that's going to turn us all into Orwell and Huxley characters.  So whatta ya gonna do?

Teeth and a Rehearsal

Shortened our walk just a bit, so I could have a bite before the teeth-cleaning appointment at 9.
As for this, no big deal, I guess, but I have an inordinately powerful dislike of any dental procedure and certainly, this was no exception.  However, it wasn't too terribly bad and I thought I got off easily until...
...the dentist walked in and said we'd take care of that cavity now.   Wha--what cavity?  The one in my front lower tooth that was hardly noticeable, but needed to be filled because it's a food trap.
Okay, okay, ya got me.  Dr. Lee, a nice young man and very gentle, did the deed and, although uncomfortable, I stood it and now it's over.  Cost  me $177, but compared to last month's $365, I grinned and bore it.
Picked up Aline and we sped up to the farm. Got turnips, carrots, sweet potatoes, beets--I love the root vegetables--plus lettuce, Swiss chard, spinach, and a few other greens.  I put Aline to work checking the whiteboard, and fetching the veggies, as I did the same, and we finished in about an hour.
Went to my friend's to leave off her produce, chatted with her husband, then I took Aline to Tooties, the little luncheonette in New Egypt.  She loved it and so did I.
Zipped home, showered, and changed into my "lady of the nineteen-thirties" costume, went next door to Frank's, picked up Aline and went to dress rehearsal.
Aside from the usual snafus, it went well, but I didn't get home until after 10:00, then stayed up with popcorn and wine until almost midnight.  I had planned to just "sleep in," as the silly saying goes, but Mike called at 5:45, thinking it was an hour later.  Ordinarily, I'd be up by then, anyway, but I wasn't this time.  Just got a glimpse and a word from adorable V. and V., but he'll call back at 8.  I hadn't intended to walk, but since I'm up, might as well.

Insurance and Stuff

Went to the three-mile and boy, could I feel the months of non-participation.  This was grueling; I even had to stop for a few beats here and there, but it was finally over.
Pared and cut up turnips and carrots and put in the slow cooker, then drove to Shop-Rite for supplies.  It was jammed--dunno why on a Wednesday, but maybe a storm is brewing.  If so, I don't want to know.
My friend came at 3:30 and shortly thereafter, Ann R., the health insurance rep, joined us  It was a long session, close to two hours, and after the smoke cleared, the upshot gave me two choices: I could pay $73 more per month and get a lousy policy that covers little, has astronomical co-pays and a very high deductible or I could pay $180 more per month ($2160 more per year) and get a slightly less lousy--but still lousy--policy.  My friend leans toward the latter, but will "discuss"--electronically--the question with the three other most important people in my life, and advise.
As for me, I'm numb.  I can't even work up my customary rage against the unholy alliance--government and big health--that rob people blind and make them think it's a good thing.
Rehearsal went okay, except for the fact that Desi sat on stage the whole time, even when he was supposed to get up to the microphone.  I'm going to send out an e-mail to my cast and add a general admonition about that to all.
I have to go to the dentist this morning for teeth-cleaning and had told my friend I'd go the farm.  Hope my car makes it.

War Worship by the Philadelphia Eagles

Beyond, simply beyond belief.  No wonder I hate and despise football, which seems to have turned into a blood sport--so closely connected with warfare as to be indistinguishable.  Things like this make me despair of anything close to an effective anti-war movement.  Let the games begin.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=769595259744916

Busy and Armistice Day

Biz, biz, bizzy day!  Picked Aline up at 9:00 and went off to Shalom House, the Margate library being closed for odious Armistice Day.*
The acting class went very well.  Bernice had informed me she would be absent, but all other attendees were there--and on time, too.
Last meeting, I had printed out ten poems, mostly by my favorite poets, William Butler Yeats, Emily Dickinson, Shakespeare, and William Blake.  I had them randomly select one and asked them to recite and explain theirs next time, which was yesterday. Generally, they all did a credible job and it was an excellent session.  In fact, a number of attendees remarked after on how much they enjoy the course--very satisfying, considering I work my ass off (oops--sorry) to make it so. We stopped at Smithville for lunch, virtuous Mimi getting only a Caesar salad and no beer, then drove home.
When I got in, I was taken aback to hear a message from Henry M., the only male who had signed up to attend the acting course, but he didn't show up in October.  I called him right after and left a message, but he didn't get back to me until yesterday. Called him and, to cut it short, he seems to want to still attend, although he missed the first two sessions.
This is really a complication, as the others already have their "assignments" for next time and I'm just not sure how I would fit Henry in.  He said he had been in the hospital, which is why he didn't show--why he didn't call me back until a month later, I don't know.
We talked and I found he's had some acting experience--not sure how long ago; he sounds pretty old--although my course is aimed toward those who haven't.  Anyway, if he can't be included, he asked if he could get his deposit back. Said I'd call FELS coordinator, Adele C., which I did and she'll get back to me.
Another complication: As soon as I dealt with the previous, I went over to Susan to ask Walter to take over announcing duties for Frank on Friday, while he attends his aunt's funeral.  He agreed and that was that, I thought--.
But no-o-o-o.  I sat down at the computer to find a message from Tonya that she had asked Kevin Berdini to do the honors.  Had to call Walter to rescind and I'm not even absolutely sure Kevin intends to do the honors for my Shadow, or just for Tonya's episodes, but I assume he will.
Today, I'll go to exercise at 9:00 (I fervently hope it's the two-mile and not the three) and will see the health insurance rep at 3:30.  My friend will come, too, to help me decide what I should do about next year's coverage.  Rehearsal again tonight, when if we're lucky, the coverage for Frank will be straightened out.
Can't wait until the week is over.
*WIDER:  Oh, yes, yes, I know the lousy warmongers have rechristened it "Veterans Day," bastardizing the original idea for it, which was to remember combatants who died in battle, not simply fought.  The paeans of praise for the "heroes" seemed to reach a fever pitch yesterday, with almost hysterical outpourings of worshipful garbage for our troops--who are practically divine, as was hinted about the Japanese kamikaze pilots during World War II--along with free car washes and lunch at McDonald's.  The Press of Atlantic City ran an odious piece on the front page about heroic vets visiting classrooms, presumably to impress on the children the nobleness of slaughtering strangers on command.  In places of worship (not that I would dream of darkening their doors), there was surely many a mention, if not full sermons, dedicated to the hired killers. The whole idea behind these sickening practices is, of course, to ensure the mindset favorable to never-ending war and to nudge those upcoming--the children--to eventually volunteer for "service" as executioners for a grateful nation.              
        

Busy and Rehearsal

Okay, I'm back in the fight!  I hadn't gone to exercise for--oh, six or nine months or so--but galvanized myself to go yesterday for the two mile.  I intend to keep it up, too.
Besides, I got lots done: changed the sheets on my bed, vacuumed, clean up in the kitchen, and shifted stuff in the garage. More than that, I packed up my car with stuff that hadn't sold at the flea markets and took it over to the thrift store.
My friend came at lunchtime to bring my farm produce, we ate, and she did a few little things for me, including moving the bookcase from the guest room into the garage.
After she left, I prepared Swiss chard, which is pretty tedious.  You have to cut out the tough stem that runs down the middle, wash it over and over, then roll up the leaves and cut them in strips. Frankly, I'm not so sure the chard is worth it.  Friend also brought "spicy lettuce," plus some nice turnips, carrots, and--yay!--sweet potatoes.
Still busily scooting around, I had my car washed and when I got home, parked in the driveway and I, myself, little me, used the dirt devil and cloths to clean the inside.  I also swept the garage and moved some stuff around.  I'm on a roll!
The only lousy part of the day was when I read Rick Mellerup's write-up about Listen to This! in The Tuckerton Leader.  He included that Tonya is directing "The Blind Beggar Dies."   No-o-o, Ricky, I'M directing it.  I had given him a sheet with that information on it, plus the whole cast (nine of them), so I'm a tad annoyed, especially as he thanked me heartily for it.  He also carelessly misread Grey's name; it appears in the paper as "Greg."
Rehearsal limped along last night--I still think the show is much too long, but the hell with it.  There are some funny bits and I'm not even going to think about the rest.
My FELS acting course is today and I'll be picking up Aline at 9:00.