Mare Mare’s place to ramble on…..

I am taking a little break.  After going through lines, I realized I had a little more to memorize than I thought.  All is well though.  I’m down to one scene.  The final scene, in fact, that needs memorized.  The rest, I’m good.  I think.  I can type it all without looking, anyway.

I sure will be glad when this show is over.  My house is in desperate need of cleaning…..laundry, dishes, just general clutter all over the place.  Good thing I’m single….

It’s raining out.  Makes me want to nap.  However, no way today! 

Looking outside I noticed the “jungle” across the street from me has trees with buds on them.  This makes me happy.  It won’t be long now before it starts to turn a nice yellow green color, and the flowering trees will bloom.  I love the jungle across the street.  It used to be a very well kept fenced in garden.  The house that it was behind was torn down years ago and a set of condos was erected.  The fenced in garden remains.  It has some very beautiful trees in it.  It is very over grown with brush, and has become the home of what I believe is the town’s entire stray cat population.  The owner’s have tried to sell it, but I think they want a lot of money for it, because it has sat there for4 years at least with not a hint of being disturbed….and that’s fine with me.  It’s nice not to see a house right across the street. 

You know, I think it’s probably time to take my Christmas tree down……..just a thought……

Peace & Love,

Mare

I guess I probably should have kept the pretty pink tulip for the spring, but I grew bored with it.  New year, new look.  If I was good at this computer type stuff, I’d make my own look for my blog.  Lots of soft greens and pinks…and pearls.  I like Victorian looking stuff, but this is good.  It makes me look smart when you open my blog, eh? 

Just killing some time before getting ready for work.  It’s going to be a nice easy two days and then I’m off for two.  I’ve had to work 10 days straight this week and the last 4 have been very stressful.  This next two nights I will be working with people that I don’t have to listen for and cover their butts.  I probably shouldn’t be so harsh with new guy.  He’s learning.  I was new once, too.  I’ve been trying.  That’s all one should ask, no?

Practice is going ok, too.  Tonight is memorization night.  I will get act 3 down either tonight or tomorrow.  But by golly, I’m going to work on it. 

I’m looking forward to this weekend.  Friday night after practice I think a group of us are going to see Alice in Wonderland.  Saturday night, I think we are coming to Bryan to hear Squirmy’s band at JB’s.  Other than that, I plan on doing a lot of laying around and not doing much of anything.  If it’s nice, I might go rake some stones out of yard.  Maybe.

Ok, I’m rambling on about not a lot.  Time to go.  Have a great week and I hope to see all of you soon!!!!

Peace & Love,

Mare

Taking a little break from lines.  I have the first 3/4 of this thing down pretty well.  The last quarter, however….is not going well. 

Normally I practice my lines at work at night.  For the last week, I’ve been a little buried with some extra paper work, and along with that, have actually been kind of busy.  New guy is a pain and listening to everything for him is very distracting.  So, this last week hasn’t proven to be very good for learning lines. 

Tonight we are doing our first complete run through.  The only thing saving my butt is that I really doubt we get to act 3.  The one good thing is  that the majority of my lines are in act 2,and I know them pretty well…except the last couple scenes have some hazy spots. 

About three weeks to go.  I’ll be good. I finally have a couple days off this Friday and Saturday so Saturday is my day to get everything memorized and lookin’ good.  Mental note….no more lead parts….no more lead parts……

Ok, back to lines for a half hour…..

Peace & Love!

Mare

Ok, so today I remembered I need to make my car payment, and my cell phone payment, oh, and crap, the water bill, oh….and I have no food in the house…for me or the cat. 

This was one of those mornings I was supposed to go straight to bed so I could get up and work on my lines.  I’ve got myself all worked up now about how in the world I’m going to live for the next 4 years……I hate mornings like this.

It’s my own fault, too.  That’s the real sucky thing.  I’ll do so well keeping on a budget and cooking at home, and not doing anything…..then something happens and WHAMMO!!!!  I lose all self control and go out and buy something I really don’t need….like a computer.  (At least the internet is free, eh?)

I did some calculating this morning.  If I keep on the same horrible spiraling pace I’m at, in four years I’ll have one MAJOR payment done and can start working on rebuilding things. 

I decided I either want someone to just take control of everything and give me an allowance, OR….marry a very wealthy man.  Neither of which, I’m afraid, is going to happen.  So, plan C…..

I need to get a second job.  It’s been seven years since I’ve had to work two jobs and I just loathe the thought.  Of course, it would mean giving up a couple of things for a couple of years…..like the theatre.  I would still be on the board and be as active as possible, but I wouldn’t be able to be in anything or direct.  If I decide to do this, I have no worries about a replacement director for Hound of the Baskervilles….I know someone who is quite competent.  Although I’m sure he’d much rather perform it than direct it.  I’m not saying this is my plan, but I’m definitely throwing it around.  Plus I’d have to find a part time job that would  work with my hours.  Not too difficult. as I can change my sleep around. 

I don’t know…..I’m just having a mini panic attack right now and thought blogging would help me sort things out.  It has, kinda.

If any of you know of any grants available to young-ish single females with no children and a great paying job but still has absolutely no money, please, let me know!!!!

Ok, I really need to sleep…..

Peace & Love…

Mare

Ok, I have to share some of my favorite videos…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2T7wKdQsTo

and, for you country fans…you know who you are…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THtX7H6ZJi8

I just realized that this very week one year ago, our theater group was doing “Meet me in St. Louis.”  Maybe not one of my all time favorite shows, but I met some very wonderful people from doing that show.  I like to also think of it as the “rebirth” of the Village Players.  The end of this month will also mark my one year anniversary of blogging.  This is post 109.  That’s a lot of rambling….even for me!!!  In this last year I’ve matured quite a bit.  I’ve learned that true friendships come easy.  There doesn’t have to be a lot of drama around everything.  I’ve found that in all of you and I appreciate every one of you.  Even the ones that read this that don’t have blogs….I know you’re there.   

Looking forward to another fun filled year with all of you!!!!

Peace & Love!

Mare

It’s after 5 in the morning, but my blood pressure needs to settle….so I’m going to tell my story.  I’ll try to tell it so that it’s somewhat humorous to the reader, but let me say right at the beginning that this has been a horrible night and I can’t wait to laugh about it later……

I woke up Monday afternoon with a headache.  Not just a headache…one of those kind that feels like someone stuck a knife in the back of your neck and you can’t even hold your head up kind of headache.  I promptly let everyone know I was NOT going to be at practice and took some drugs and went back to bed. 

I woke up and felt a bit better.  Someone took the knife out, anyway.  I can survive with the rest.  Cranky, but tolerable.  Due to events beyond my control, I had to come back down to Markle tonight to finish up the statements.  The trip down was quite peaceful….I put Sara Brightman in my CD player and chilled.  Feeling better. 

I get to the hardware and see that my brother has changed internet services and has some kind of black modem thingy for Verizon DSL sitting on the desk and wires laying all over the place….right where I work.  Hm….I did some rearranging, and at least gave myself a spot to do my work.  (Note: My brother is just as bad at computers as his beautiful MUCH younger sister….that’s me.)  I flip on the monitor and see all kinds of errors.  Hm…..ok.  I clicked out of all of them, and started over.  Loaded the accounting program…..Huh, it’s not loading.  Hm….let’s try the internet.  Big mistake.  The whole thing locked up.  Not even my control-alt-delete cure all would work.  Nothing.  Locked.  Ok, if all else fails, turn the stupid thing off.  Turn it back on (Of course I waited 15 seconds…I heard that somewhere….not sure where or why.)  Still locked up or didn’t load my program.  Sigh…..TWO hours later, I realize that when I rearranged, I bumped the power button on the DSL box/modem thingy.  Ok, that’s part of it.  Fixed that.  Turned the stupid thing off again.  (Waited 15 more seconds.) Turned back on.  Better.  I FINALLY got Quickbooks to load.  Yay!  Screw the internet, I don’t really need it.  It’s just nice to turn on Yahoo music and listen to the radio on it.  Oh well.  Get ready to print a report.  ERROR!  My computer is not hooked up to the printer.  What?  (Check wires, everything plugged in.)  At this point I’m swearing because I’m already seriously behind.  I start snooping  through computer….for some reason my brother set the printer to go to a photo printer, not the one I use.  Sweet, problem solved.  Printer prints now.  Yay.  All of a sudden, the internet pops up….sweet….turn on my yahoo radio.  I’m all set. 

I got all my data entry done (takes about 2 hours.)  Now, I’m already to print statements.  Load printer…..er, need printer paper.  Hm…..(spend 15 minutes tearing hardware store shelves apart looking for a stinkin’ ream of paper.) No paper.  You have GOT to be kidding……ok.  One of the problems with doing paperwork in the middle of the night in Markle Indiana is that there is nothing, I repeat NOTHING open.  And really, if there was, there isn’t anyplace in this podunk town that would sell printer paper.  Hm….Bluffton has a Walmart.  How do I get to Bluffton from here?  (Call work, get directions.)  On my way to Bluffton.  It’s only 20 minutes.  Get printer paper at Walmart.  On my way back.  Half way back….Red, white, and blue lights come on behind me…..(insert expletive here….a big one.)  This wouldn’t be bad, except I had NOTHING with me.  No driver’s license, no proof of insurance…oh, I did have the registration.  So, halfway in tears I explain to this very nice deputy my sad sad story.  I don’t know if he believed me or not, but he did notice I had my sheriff’s office sweatshirt on….and he also noticed that my rear license plate cover says “My work number is 911.”  Praise the Lord!  I got a “Have a better night and be careful.”  This is of course when things started looking better. 

I got back to the store around 4:30 ish….statements are printed, and now I’m just attaching invoices to get them ready to fold stuff and seal.  I should be out of here in the next couple hours.  I can live with that. 

I feel better for getting that all out.  Now, let’s look at the positive, just to end on a good note: 1.  My yahoo music has been playing well and the country music has done my soul well.  2.  My brother bought me a new stapler.  Not the cheap kind either.  A nice Swingline. (If you’ve ever worked in an office, you know Swingline is the only way to go…. )  3.  I’m really scraping to think of a third positive tonight…..oh yeah….Praise the Lord for nice deputies!  Oh, and 4.  Thank God for blogs to help me vent and thank God for friends like you guys who have actually sat there and read this!!! 

Hope you all have a great day.  Sleep should be very good today!

Peace & Love!

Mare

We have a new guy at work.  I actually like the guy.  He’s just not ready to be on his own.  And certainly not ready to be on his own working with me.  At work, I’m a little picky about how things are done.  I don’t look at it as a bad thing, either.  The other people I work with on a regular basis are used to me. 

Our supervisor always tells us we have to let the new people sink or swim.  Which I’m ok with, as long as I don’t have to teach them how to swim.  And don’t expect me to save them when they’re drowning.  However last night it was just him and me……and yanking him up from the depths just was too much.  I’m not saying it was his fault….I blame not enough of the proper type of training.  He has been coddled for the last two months and now that he is working with me…a NON coddler, he has no clue.

Normally I wouldn’t have a new guy working the city police department (Defiance), but Thursdays are normally not horribly busy, so I told him to work them…..just so he can get used to them.  How was I supposed to know we’d have a car chase that led to crashing into a water hydrant and then a foot pursuit turning into a home invasion?????  Yikes!!!

I think we got it all figured out.  I had to do a lot of listening last night.  I listened to the deputies…who thankfully weren’t doing anything…and Hicksville, that had a stolen vehicle debacle, and listen to Defiance city.  I don’t think it would have been so bad, but new guy wouldn’t listen to me.  He said “ok” a lot, but never followed through.  Then when I asked him about whatever, he said “I forgot.”  UGH!!!!! 

As far as I’m concerned the guy can sink to the bottom with the routine stuff, but when it comes to the officers and their safety, I have a big problem.  My real problem lies with me going to the supervisor.  She asks for my input, but if I say anything negative, she tells me I’m not being nice….or I’m just too impatient.  So, basically she’s telling me to coddle and deal with it just like other people do.

So, everyone got to go home alive this morning.  That’s the main thing.  I came home, drank a half bottle of my favorite wine, and went to bed.  I don’t work with new guy for 4 days now.  I’m ok with that.  I know in time he will improve, and I’m just being “Mare.” 

I’m ready to go to Bryan and meet with my friends and laugh.  It’s very important that I do that tonight before going to work.  Laughing is very good……

Peace & Love Ya’all!!!

Mare

I like Mrs. Savage.  I hope I’m like her when/if I get old.  The above is one of her many lines…..and so far is the hardest one for me to remember….except for when I’m NOT on stage, of course.

I spent four hours today writing and rewriting my lines.  When I get bored with writing them, I type them….over and over again.  This has been my way of memorizing for umpteen years.  It works for me.  I should print out all of my typings, but I would go through a ream of paper.  I should have the notebook filled in another week. 

A wee bit of diva came out tonight.  The cast was told that there would be no speaking by the director till afterwards, when she would have notes.  If you know who our director is, you would guess this to be an impossible task….and you would guess correctly.  I was on a pretty good roll with the lines, and I had myself in the “zone” where I am concentrating on every aspect of my character and “being” Mrs. Savage…..and she stops us because I missed part of a line.  She just wanted to remind me of it because she likes the line.  Fine, but the line wasn’t a pivotal part of the paragraph and it was flowing quite smoothly.  By this interruption, my zone was gone.  I got all flustered, and could barely think of the rest of the lines in the scene.  Please, somebody give me some duct tape!!!

Other than that, I thought I did very well.  I have a few pages of dialogue which are giving me problems, but hopefully I will have them down in the next week or so. 

Sorry to rant.  Everything else in my world is going ok, if not great.  I need to relax. 

Right now I’m trying to think of something unique to do to a roast tomorrow.  I’m coming towards the end of a paycheck, so I get a roast that will last me for 3 or 4 meals.  I have potatoes…..I have cream of mushroom soup.  I have a crockpot.  I thought of going out to dad’s and getting some of his canned tomatoes from the garden and using those  instead of the cream of mushroom soup….any ideas????  I’m craving something that has a little more pizazz than the usual……

Thank you for any and all suggestions.

Peace & Love!

Mare

Once a gain my workplace has had to say goodbye to a dear friend.  Today we went to the funeral home and paid our respects to Lt.  Larry McCurdy…aka “Mac.”  He has been a deputy for 30 plus years.  He recently retired due to the cancer and he wanted to spend as much time as he had left with his family. 

I loathe funeral homes.  However, it is very impressive when a procession of 70 deputies, Communication Officers, and police officers from the area walk in single file to offer their condolences to the family. 

I always psych myself up beforehand saying “I’m not going to cry, I’m not going to cry”……..until of course I walk in the room and see the whole family and other visitors crying, then I might as well hang it up.

So, this one’s for Mac.  You grouchy old cuss. 

Peace & Love,

Mare