Something Wicked This Way Comes

I am an intelligent woman, but sometimes I don't know what I'm thinking.

Case in point: the evilness of this week. Not only is this week moving week, but it's also opening week for "Macbeth." Wowzas!

The move is almost finished. The movers came two days ago and I'm only cleaning out the final remnants of the old place. I have to say, I am embarrassed at the level of disgustingness I discovered once the furniture was moved. I have inches of dust behind bookcases, dirt and crap (not literally) where my couch was, etc. I was horrified to let the movers see it, but I'm sure they've seen worse. Today I tried to clean, but didn't last long. My apartment is really falling apart now. A week ago I discovered a hole in my ceiling; it began as a crack but upgraded to a full-sized hole. My apartment people temporarily fixed with... wait for it... a piece of a cardboard box nailed into the ceiling. I wish I was kidding, but alas I am not. They "permanently" fixed it Tuesday, but I wouldn't trust it. And they didn't even address the other cracks. Today, my A/C broke (again) and they didn't come to fix it while I was there. Sweat poured down my back, my hair, my legs. I worked for two miserable hours before leaving. That made me grumble because I had hoped to completely finish... and didn't. Oh, did I mention that my vacuum died?

But, I'm moved for the most part. I'm half living in boxes, just recently found the remote controls, am not quite sure where my black bra is, and haven't seen certain items in a while. With packing and moving during the day, tutoring in the afternoon (my summer job), and rehearsals/production at night, I'm having a hard time unpacking. I look forward to next week - I have tutoring and bootcamp, but I'm free other than that for three days in a row. I plan on getting a lot done then.

In other news, we opened "Macbeth" yesterday. This show is by far the most challenging show I've ever directed. Many people came up to me last night afterwards commenting on the challenging nature, but saying that they enjoyed the performance. I have the best cast I've ever worked with, and they are so enthusiastic. Directing my boyfriend proved to be an extra challenge. We had our disagreements over characterization and such, but only once did we both get frustrated that we didn't speak for a day. Directing him in the kissing scenes was another challenge. He was so nervous! :-) His leading lady is a terrific woman and she, her husband, Billy, and myself hang out and we all get along. In fact, her husband joked with me yesterday, "You know, it's only fair that we make out now." :-)

So last night's performance went well. We had a slight wardrobe malfunction - making me thankful that I told my guys they cannot wear their kilts traditionally. But the blood, the stage combat, and scene changes went wonderful. I'm very proud of this show and am happy that I can put it on my theatre resume.

Life's good.

Ciao!

Achoo!

I have kicked up some major dust bunnies.

Well, the end of the month has arrived and I am in the process of moving. Almost everything that lives inside of a piece of furniture is packed away and I have downsized quite a bit. I don't think I have fewer belongings than when I moved in here four years ago, but I definitely have fewer belongings than I did a year ago. I have sold 6 crates of books to Half-Priced books, donated four garbage bags full of clothes to a needy family, today I've filled 10 garbage bags with trash, I've gone through all my files and took out stuff I haven't looked at in 4 years, I've cleaned out my desk and thrown away stuff I haven't look at in 4 years. That's really been litmus test - if I haven't used in in the past four years I should get rid of it. As for the dust... wow. I needed to clean my apartment more, especially the corners and crannies. I never knew that much dust could accumulate!

Moving out of this apartment is good for several reasons. Of course, moving in with Billy is exciting and scarey, and prevents me from being too much of a recluse. I think we'll do fine together- we've been living together at my place for the past month (he rarely goes home, but now he has to in order to get ready for my stuff!). But another reason my timing is good is that my apartment is starting to fall apart. A couple of months ago I noticed cracks in my ceiling, cracks in my walls, my bathroom door doesn't shut well, my sliding glass door doesn't shut at all unless it's locked at the same time, and my front door deadbolt had to be removed because it wouldn't unlock, thus trapping me inside my apartment. Plus my balcony is starting to lean and I'm pretty sure some of the wood is rotten. Billy's happy I'm leaving as well - I think he'd worry if I stayed!

Time to pack some more!

Ciao!

Memories: Trash or Treasure?

At the end of this month, I will be doing something that I haven't done in 8 years: I will be living with a boyfriend. I was 25 before, unwise to the world, green, and still trying to figure out who I was. 8 years later, I have a career that I love, independence, and definitely more life experience. I also have an apartment filled with stuff.

When merging one's life with another, some things have to go. When I was 25, my boyfriend didn't have a lot of stuff; neither did I. Now, my boyfriend has some stuff, and I have way too much. And a great deal of it shouts "single woman." So as I pack, I must decide what can go, and what I don't need anymore.

The 2 Starbucks Teddy bears stay. I was a manager and besides, I can give them to my kids. The antique bell can go. My evil ex-stepfather gave it to me. It's pretty, but gathers dust. My Phantom of the Opera music box stays- it's my favorite musical. 4 candles I've never lit can go. I have too many candles. Framed pictures from My European travels stays- although some might move to my classroom. My wicker trays go- Billy doesn't like wicker. My LSU gnome stays. It amuses me. Various presents from ex-boyfriends and ex-friends go. Except the last Harry Potter book. My marathon medals stay, despite the fact I don't run anymore. They remind me of what I can accomplish. All wall-hangings in my bedroom go, but my barbed wire Texas in the hall stays.

Moving is a pain, but it gives one a chance to clean out their lives and go down memory lane. As I delve into this new chapter, I must close previous chapters. Time to build as a couple, not single.

Oh, and my collection of autographed Playbills also stays. :-)