I now consider myself a candidate for SAINTHOOD. Fighting down the inner voice that told me to skip exercise, I completed the three-mile once again yesterday. I'm so virtuous I can hardly stand myself.
Mary Ann Van O. picked up Susan, Barb H., and me at noon and we had lunch at Dynasty. Very tasty Caesar salad. We then went to the library where Lois V. joined us. Enjoyed an actress from Mass., who impersonated Zelda Fitzgerald and very nicely, too. Talked to her after and told her about LETCO. Very enjoyable afternoon.
Decided at the last minute to attend the director workshop last night. Did so, and brought a short play, If Guys Were Gals I wrote some time ago. I had intended to give it to Marge D. for our Sunrise Bay Players, but decided I could stage it for our one-act play program in the summer. We read the others--only Casey B. and I submitted original pieces--and I guess I'll participate. Have just about decided to go with brother Larry and family on the cruise to Mexico in June, but I'll have time to direct and rehearse before and after.
WIDER: Thanks to my friend, Pat R., for putting me on to the blog, "Buckeye Surgeon":
http://ohiosurgery.blogspot.com/2011/03/over-treatment.html
Here's a sample to illustrate why I've added him to my "Favorites" list:
"...here we are sitting on the greatest military arsenal the world has ever seen. American military spending in 2010 was over $650 billion. That's 7 times more than the second highest national military budget (China). All this ordnance and material that, which each passing year, becomes more and more obsolete, necessitating even more spending in the future---might as well use it whenever a vaguely justifiable reason develops somewhere in the world, right?"
I'll be checking in with him everyday.

Still winding down. Tried to argue myself into skipping the morning walk (Susan was having a medical procedure), but didn't allow such slacking off, so went. Spent most of the rest of the day writing a piece for The Breeze about my mother's early life. It's mediocre, I'm afraid--the article, that is, not my mother's early life.
Found the entire script for Night Must Fall, which we're doing in September, on-line and spoke Mrs. Bramson's part. Decided to audition also for the housekeeper's part. I also bought the script (three bucks) via eBay. Went to the library and did some wash. Aside from that, nuttin' much.

I'm continuing to enjoy a pleasant interlude (in what? winter? my life? the history of the world?), now in a lower key after the excitement of the weekend. Talked to sister Betty early and told her I'd pack up the leftovers from dinner and bring down to her place to share. Did so and we had a nice sisterly visit. Ate the cold cuts, salad, and crocked potatoes, then bundled up--it was sunny, but cool--and walked the boards for a half mile or so. I had intended to stop at the cemetery on the way home, but it was past 5:30 already, so skipped that.
Had barely walked in the door when Mary Ann Van O. called and we had a nice chat. She had been sitting behind my family on Saturday and Joan had offered her the cushion Jim didn't want. She gratefully accepted and emphasized how nice J. was--agreed.
Had just a bite for dinner, looked up Night Must Fall on YouTube and watched the first portion of the movie version (c. 1940). We're doing it in September and, yes, you can be damn sure I'm going to audition. Found the script on eBay for $3.00 and sent for it. Characters include a mean, dictatorial, crotchety old lady--for me, type-casting again!

What a weekend! Although I hadn't gotten to bed until midnight, got up at 6:30 and almost immediately starting scrubbing red potatoes and slicing onions. With garlic, Italian seasoning, and a little oil, put them in the crock pot, then assembled and cut up goodies for a big green salad. Got the rest of dinner arranged on plates, wrapped, and refrigerated. I had invited Ellen V. a fellow LETCO member who had a small part in Town, to join us for dinner, so laid out place settings for five.
Joan and Jim got up and happily, they treated me to breakfast out. We went to Sco-Jo's, where I should have ordered oatmal--. Did I? Ha! Scarfed down a big plate of scrambled eggs, sausage, toast, and fruit, along with good coffee and good conversation with J. and J. They drove me to the school to retrieve my car and back home, the two packed up and left after a delightful visit, which I enjoyed immensely.
Got dressed for the performance and arrived for that a bit before 1:00. Set up my changing station backstage, chatted with co-actors, and we went on.
Betty, Helen, and Suzanne had gone to Dynasty Diner for lunch and I had talked to them in the parking lot. They had to wait until 1:30 when the audience was admitted.
The show went very well, although I think the Saturday night show was the best. As we always do, we mingled with the audience after, meeting and greeting all. Had a cast picture on stage after, then gathered up my stuff for the last time, and led Betty and entourage home. Ellen V. came soon after and we had a bit of wine beforehand, then ate a leisurely, talk-and-laughter-filled dinner.
Betty, Helen, and Suzanne left about 7:00, but Ellen stayed for another hour and a half. MY Ellen called and I was able to introduce her to the other Ellen before she left. While I was enjoying the Skype call, the phone rang and it was Mary Ellen M. (I know a lot of Ellens!), from whom I was delighted to hear. Got her number and called her back after my conversation with darling daughter. We talked for almost and hour, deciding to meet at the end of the month, probably in Philly where she now lives. By that time, it was almost 10:00 and all the disarray from dinner was still there. I can't stand to go to bed and leave stuff out, so spent the next 45 minutes or so putting food away, loading the dishwasher, and washing pots.
Finally, finished, went to bed about 11:00. Was tempted to sleep late, but I'm determined to get back on the straight and narrow, so got up at 6:00. Will meet Susan for our walk at 7:00 and go to exercise at 9:00. I've been concentrating on the play and neglecting my usual routine, and now I must shape up.
But it was a terrific several days!

Last night's performance was, incredibly, even better than Friday's. To begin with, the horrid rain had stopped and it was a beautiful, sunshiny day throughout. The players--at least, it seemed this was to me--were at the top of their games. Also, the audience was wonderfully receptive and appreciative, maybe more so than the earlier one. They were rapt by the beauty of the play in the right places and laughed in appropriate others. After, I was greeted with congratulations by friends Barb and Ray H., Pat and Ray H., Lois and Bill V., and Mary Ann Van O., as well as others I didn't even know. I was gratified when George S., who plays the milkman, Howie, told me a number of people asked where "Mrs. Soames" (that's me, folks) was. Most important of the attendees was Dearheart Senior and husband from up north and niece, Joan, and her Jim.
J. and J. had arrived at my house about 1:00 and, of course, we had a great time catching up with each other's doings. They brought me two bottles of wine, a red and a white, nice additions to my cellar--er, the ten-bottle wine holders I have in the dining room. I knew they wanted only a light lunch, as they were meeting co-theatre-goers for an early dinner, so I served them two varieties of sushi along with a few sides. They left a bit after 4:00 to meet aforementioned couple from up north, as well as sister Betty. Betty will attend today with two friends.
The cousin couples came with me after the show to the cast part at co-director Barbara H.'s house in Eagleswood and we all had a fine time. What fun to mix and mingle with the nice people with whom I shared the stage a few hours before! We brought our own drinks--J. and J. took along two bottles of wine and I two cans of beer--and shared the pasta, salad, rolls, and so on catered by the parents of one of the kids in the show.
We had left my car at the school and I must get it early, as it has my costumes and my pocketbook in it. Luckily, we were allowed to leave some stuff overnight, so I have the bulk of it already there.
Invited Betty and the two friends she's bringing to today's matinee performance over for a light supper after the show.

Rehearsal Thursday night seemed to limp along and there was a lot of confusion about blocking (moving around the stage). Got home about 10:00 and to bed about 11:30. Woke yesterday--opening day--to a dreary, overcast sky and what was worse, it began to rain about noon. It rained, rained some more, then continued to rain. Went to Manahawkin in the rain, finished a few chores in the rain, and dressed for the play in the rain. As we all dragged our mountains of costumes, props, and other stuff into the school, it continued to rain and rain hard. "Okay," I thought, "Nobody's going to show up for this thing, so just relax and accept that."
Hey, but...the room pretty much filled up, the play started, and it was a smash hit! It went off with almost no snags (there are always a few little exceptions) and everybody loved it! After curtain calls, we went out into the audience as we always do, and mingled. Susan and Walter were there and praised the show mightily. I was so pleased to see Mary Ellen M., with whom I had performed in Steel Magnolias. She and I had lost touch with each other, but reconnected last night and I couldn't be happier about that. What a wonderful evening and tonight should be as good or better.
Expecting Joan and Jim about noon; it will be great to see them and I'm so grateful they come to the plays from so far away--Suffern, New York. Joan has expressed an interest in the theatre and I hope she follows through.
Because there's nothing in the world so exciting and there's nothing else I'd rather do.

Wish we had another week to rehearse, but tonight's the night--opening night, that is. I feel prepared when it comes to my lines, but the blocking seems to constantly being changed, which makes me nervous. Instead of coming in from stage right for the wedding scene, all the "guests" are to come in from stage left, for instance.
In the afternoon, I attended a rather tedious Breeze meeting at the clubhouse. I don't have a thing for the May issue, but will try working on a piece on my mother, since Mother's Day is coming up.
Just hung up from a very welcome Skype call from P. and N. I was alarmed at the fact that an earthquake yesterday resulted in the death of two people. However, they didn't die from a building falling on them, but from pre-existing ailments. P. explained a bit about the radiation thing, too. Guess I'm a little relieved at that, but I'm still uneasily aware that the crises isn't over.
Must wash and press some of my on-stage clothes and check to see that all is in readiness. Looking forward to Joan and Jim's visit tomorrow and will apend part of the day preparing their bedroom and bath.