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I seem to have dropped my pattern of weekly posts. I think of all sorts of things I want to talk about and converse with people about while I'm at work, doing something tedious but not engrossing, but when I get home, by the time I fix dinner, scoop the litter box, do laundry and the kitchen. and catch up on LJ and the rest of the Internet, I'm sleepy and it's time for bed. Also, lately there are fewer and fewer posts on LJ, and many of those folks don't comment elsewhere. I don't mean when I friend an author or someone who is a public writer, but it's very annoying when a person initiates friending me and then apparently doesn't read anything I post -- as if they are saying, "We can be friends as long as I am the one making all the decisions about what we talk about." Meh on that. When I friend someone, I saying that I am interested in what they have to say about all sorts of stuff. This week, my oldest son and his wife were able to come to Atlanta for a couple of nights while he's on block leave before going to Iraq. This is his third tour, and he says he'd really rather see someplace new. He's an officer now, and no longer in the Infantry, so it will be different. We (James, Christie, Stephen, Rick, Isil, and me) got to go out for pizza his first night, they spent the next day with his dad, and then they had lunch with me before he left. A good, if brief visit. This month, I've spent three nights doing office work at the Tavern, posting and adding volunteer hours in time for the Board meeting and then the Volunteer Appreciation party, which will be Sunday, September 13th, but last night I finally got to see this year's mounting of Reduced Shakespeare. My face hurt I was laughing and smiling so much. It's fluff, but well done fluff.  froofie had delivered home grown tomatoes from whyvette, but I was tired and left them behind, so the ASM got them. Wah!! No harm done, since no one knew if I'd be back in less than a week. I'll only get to be at the first half of the party -- Rick has a big solo in the GSU Orchestra concert that afternoon, so I must be there. He'll go off to grad school and wherever they will hire him soon, so I need to listen as often as I can. Am still trying to decide about going to DragonCon. Lois McMaster Bujold is a guest and I dearly love her books, but it's expensive and crowded. *frets* Today was a rare quiet day at Horizon. We're dark a couple of weeks before the next show, Third, opens ( tempest_gypsy is stage managing it) so the phone was quiet and they'd forgotten to leave a project to work on. Yay! I caught up on podcasts, had a good chat with staff who were in for a bit, and generally soaked up the calm. Many of you are pagan or atheists, but this is my blog, and it's an essential part of who I am. Tomorrow, I'm going to visit my old church. I live too far away now to be a member and participate, but I miss them. There is a lot of stereotyping about Christians, and suburban churches, and Episcopalians, but this church was one of the most welcoming place I've ever been. Not gushy or full of signing you up, but accepting of people in all their differences and I loved the place. The congregation was about a quarter to a third black; we didn't say African-American because many were from Africa, and others from the Caribbean. It happened naturally and in a matter of fact manner -- we were all Episcopalian, and all lived in the area served by that parish. We had many income levels, and I never felt less of a member because my kids qualified for reduced or free lunches. No one ever snubbed a mother whose kids had atrocious hair cuts or wore inappropriate clothes to church -- they were just glad the kids were there. Same thing when one member was sent to jail for embezzlement (I think), or another family whose son was busted for theft, in both cases the rest of the family were still essential parts of the community. I haven't found that in the intown churches near me. They're all too pale, even though I'm sure they'd welcome people of color. It's just that there are very few. Also, the church I've been attending is much more homogenous in income, even though very diverse in sexual orientation. I feel like the one who makes it diverse, and a small income is something that is often treated as a bad moral choice. Anyhow, I'm looking forward to tomorrow. | |
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The peak experience this week was Thursday. My oldest son graduated from Officer Candidate School on Thursday, and is now a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army, with shiny bars on his shoulders. All the family went to Ft. Benning to see and applaud; his brothers and I drove down together that morning, and met with his wife, their dad and his wife, my brother, his wife, my sister, and her friend, and had an excellent day. Their dad (my ex) had to leave, and the rest of us went to Mellow Mushroom to celebrate afterwards. Many pictures were taken, but not by me, so I'll have to wait until people email them to me before I can post. James has been in the Army for five and a half years, and served two tours in Iraq. I am super proud of him, and so glad he's finding his direction. In less than a month, he should be informed whether or not he's been accepted into a program in which he would be assigned to law school with the government paying his way. Usually, about one out of four applicants are accepted, so he has a good chance, especially since the colonel over all the schools at Ft. Benning asked to write a recommendation for him, too. I love to take road trips with my sons. We spent years driving an hour each way to the Renaissance Festival, and near weekly back and forth to the Shakespeare Tavern (more than half an hour each way), not to mention concerts, and wrestling meets, and lessons, and whatever, and we have good conversations, about politics, music, cooking, silliness, critiquing plays, dating, work, and family. We don't agree on everything, but the talk is intelligent and fair. Thursday was James' special day, but I'm super pleased and proud of all three of them. The day before, my annoying co-worker gave her two weeks' notice, and in keeping with her general attitude of causing trouble to assert herself, did it two days before the bosses were scheduled to leave for two weeks vacation. Way to go, girl. Bosses are cutting back on vacation to advertise for a replacement. I cannot rec anyone I know to work there -- they don't hire friends. Friday, I had the day off, so I ran errands, and then volunteered at the Shakespeare Tavern for Henry VI, Part 2. The Tavern is doing all three parts of Henry VI during November, one week for each part, and then Thanksgiving week, all three parts sequentially Friday through Sunday. These plays are almost never done in full, but they're exciting and fascinating, with just enough rowdy humor to give a break from the intensity. They're very like a miniseries, but on stage, not on screen. They aren't Great Literature, but dang, they're good to watch! Everyone involved is wired up, wound up, and exhausted, so the Board and Volunteers will be providing dinner for them during the final week. We're opening the Tavern Gift Shop earlier this year, with ceramic ornaments of the Tavern by speruoc, mugs, Shakespearean cards, lovely embroidered Tudor rose ornaments, the Shakespeare Celebriduck, and a Queen Elizabeth I Celebriduck! Also, Red and White Rose bath salts, and all sorts of other good things. Yesterday, I stayed home, and sorted, tidied, tossed, and rearranged. A good day! And then back to normal today, with church and choir, and then box office at the Horizon Theatre for closing night of Altar Boyz. | |
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I had been posting once a week, at a minimum, and often more frequently, but this past month I've been lax. I'd thought that I'd have more time to write now that we're past the holiday season, and Horizon Theatre was to be dark this month. HAHAHAH. Horizon added a two week remount of Charm School, a popular show from last season: When a company is threatened by a racially charged lawsuit, a good ol' boy and his boss are forced to attend a diversity training seminar - and let the political correctness begin.so that's added work. Twelfth Night is this month's show at the Shakespeare Tavern, and it's fun as always. Maurice Ralston is Sir Toby Belch, a role he's played several times over the years, and he makes it fresh every single time, never phoning in the lines or falling back on the same old routines used in other arts. I'm always delighted to see him on stage. Also in Tavern activities, I helped on a very nice party given for big donors (Sunday, Jan. 6th), we had Afternoon Tea at the Ritz-Carleton for the volunteer captains and female staff members (Sunday, Jan. 13th), and this coming Monday, Jan. 21st, we're having the Tavern Talk and I need to cook something to bring for refreshments. Schedule issues: Tonight, Terry of Raven's Nest picks up 15 or 16 catnip mousies I sewed this week ( Pride & Prejudice is a fabulous sewing DVD) for the Hoggtown Medieval Faire in Gainesville, Florida. Tomorrow, work at Horizon noon to 5 o'clock. Snow is supposed to happen but not stick, and I need to go to the Dekalb Farmer's Market before work, since it'll be cold enough to leave everything in the car for several hours. Sunday, is church and choir (I missed choir practice this week because I was a wuss about driving in winter precipitation at night), and straight to Horizon for box office for the 6:00 performance. Monday, Tavern Talk -- when to cook? Tuesday after work is Pheresis donation at the Red Cross in Midtown/ Wednesday is choir, which was rescheduled this past two weeks so that the final candidates for the organist/choir director position can audition with live bodies. So much for a quiet month. I still need to figure out what to bring to the Tavern Talk Monday and when to prepare it, and I really want to see Charm School, but Saturday night is the only time. Since it's supposed to be snowing, and I hate driving freeways in potentially icy situations, I think I'll pass on that. | |
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This is been a very pleasant Christmas day. Yesterday, the guys came up to wrap their presents and helped me decorate the tree, and cooked their favorite Christmas Eve dinner - brats and tots (bratwurst and tater tots), and then left, to meet me at church for the Midnight Mass. ( Tree pictures!Collapse )I slept in after returning home after 1:00 a.m. from the ( Midnight Mass last nightCollapse )Steve and Rick were going to their dad's this morning, so I puttered around, and finished wrapping gifts while drinking my second cup of coffee. The day has been peaceful and rainy, and lovely to anticipate company. Terry (Raven's Nest) stopped by to swap gifts and drink tea and visit, and then the boys arrived. We had a standing rib roast (my first), steamed peas and mushrooms, with Yorkshire pudding, and mince meat pie later on. James was on YIM this morning, still at the Patrol Base after nearly two weeks (the usual stay is about 6 days), where there are no showers and no mail, and he still hasn't gotten my Christmas packages. At least he should have them for his birthday, which is on the Twelfth Day of Christmas. Anyway, he asked me to please call all the family -- the phones at the Patrol Base were down, and although the contractors were trying to get them fixed (with lots of angry armed soldiers lurking). The generator was going on and off to complicate any IM chats. Ah, well. He did send ( pictures taken today.Collapse ) | |
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It occurred to me that I haven't posted much since asking for help with my condo situation. That is in process, and I am super grateful for everyone out here! Well, I have posted some, but it's been soapbox or gloom. I had the intention, months ago, to blog accurately about volunteering here in Atlanta., and I feel bad about lapsing. ( I really have been having a good month so far.Collapse )So, anyway, if I can do all that, on top of a 40 hour a week day job, don't go assuming that because I'm middle aged and dumpy that I don't have any energy to work a part-time job, or a livelier day job. Humph. | |
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The interim organist/choir director (otherwise known as OCD) paid us the nicest compliment yesterday. We had an extra rehearsal on Saturday afternoon to get ready for the bishop's visit today, for which we'll sing at two services, after performing last Saturday at a convocation get together.
He's always complimentary, but one assumes that's basic tact and encouragement. Yesterday, he stopped in the middle of one of the songs, and said that in every choir he's ever directed, there's always at least one person, sometimes one in each section, who is a problem, who messes up what's being sung. And in this choir, there's no one like that, that we are all good and holding our own.
Wow.
Off to church. | |
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"The book is not an object on the table, it is an event in the reader's mind. It's a process, through which an idea in my mind triggers an idea,more-or-less corresponding, in yours. The words on paper are merely the means to this end, a think-by-numbers set, a bottled daydream. The book,therefore, is only finished when somebody reads it."
Lois McMaster Bujold's essay "The Unsung Collaborator"
The To Kill a Mockingbird matinée at Theatrical Outfit and The Women of Brewster Place at the Alliance Theatre. One's a well known classic (although I haven't read it since I sneaked my mother's copy when I was 10 years old), and the other is a premiere musical of a best selling novel and well known television miniseries (which I'd not read or seen). One uses all local talent (Veronika Duerr was spot on here as white trash, after playing a lovely Juliet at the Shakespeare Tavern), and the other mostly out of town talent. One told by a narrator weaving in and out of scenes of the story, and the other mostly music, with a little dialogue to hold it together (sort of like my favorite cookies to bake at Christmas). Both had sets that sketched in the outlines of the scenes, evoking a small Alabama town in the 1930's and a tenement in the North in the 1970's without trying to physically recreate the environments. The actors all had the right clothing, and the people are what matter in both plays. Yes, they are of a specific time and place, but the ideas and people aren't cemented to it. I like being treated as an intelligent human being, competent to participate in the creation of the production by using my imagination. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution theatre critic gave both productions a B- but I disagree. I do think you need to go to a show with an open mind and heart, and let the entire production speak to you. Brewster Place runs another week through the end of September, and Mockingbird two more weeks until October 7th. I highly recommend them both. And now for something completely different. I know where Puck is hiding, gone undercover and passing as human. He's the new interim organist/choirmaster at my church. six feet tall, muscular, balding and bearded with blue eyes and killer eyelashes. He maintains a normal choir director mien, but the glint in his eye which slips out gives his real origin away. He's a good choir director and organist, but his elemental origin shows in his playing -- all fervor and passion. He's very amusing and just a bit scary -- Puck. | |
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I haven't made a proper post in a week, nor have I commented on interesting posts, and I feel bad about that. Not about my not posting, but about not commenting. The ability to comment and have conversations online is the lifeblood of LiveJournal (and all the others based on LJ's form, such as Geatest Journal and Insane Journal); if no one comments, you feel like a crushing bore - the sort no one unfriends, but no one bothers to read. (Yes, that's a hint -- comment!!) This past week has been a good sort of busy, with church added to the theatre mix. I was accepted into the more advanced choir at the church I've been attending, which is a stretch, since I haven't sung in a couple of years. The others are friendly and helpful, and I think I'm holding my own. I hope. The Minister of Music (choir director, organist) turned in his notice right after he let me in (correlation, not causation!) -- he'd met and married a man who lives in Denmark, and is moving there. We had Evensong last night (the priest gave his best wedding homily) followed by a potluck and mucho silliness. A very good time for us all, especially after we got out of our choir robes - cassocks and cottas, and the AC had gone off while we were warming up. God makes bad puns. God of Hell at PushPush Theatre closes tonight. I enjoyed working box office for the show, and getting to see it four times. They shift and change, and it's fun to sink my teeth in what I'm watching. Also, there are sneaky references in the script -- Welch keeps trying to get Emma to eat an American flag cookie, and Haynes says in horror, "You didn't eat any, did you?" Lovely sly reference to Pluto, Persphone, and the pomegranate. Terry of Raven's Nest Herbals needed more catnip mousies, so I did housework and chores and errands all day and was planning to settle down this evening with mousie makings and The Color Purple video, loaned to me by froofie. Forgot that the girl who rents a room from me was going to be in, and she's started watching a Bond movie on TV in the chair that has good light and a table. Pfui. No sewing tonight. Guess I'll be here at the computer all evening -- comments and posts are enthusiastically welcomed. | |
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Busy week in process. Wednesday was my first choir practice at the new church, for special services to honor the MOM (Minister of Music) who is moving to Denmark to join his partner. Last night and tonight, box office at PushPush Theatre for Shepard's God of Hell, tomorrow afternoon is the Shakespeare Tavern's volunteer appreciation party, Sunday church and that evening is the newcomer's dessert at the priest's house, Monday is Theatrical Outfit's volunteer appreciation party at 6:00, and the Tavern Talk at 7:00 (I'm going to try to get to both, since the speakers at the Talks have been consistently good), and then.. Tuesday, getting my hair trimmed, Wednesday is choir again, and PushPush Thursday, with Evensong followed by barbecue and potluck Friday. Oh, yeah, and that pesky day job that provides health insurance and money for my mortgage. Yikes! Oh, yeah, links for all the above on my sidebar. Seen recently on muscadinegirl and rickfan37, but I seem to recall this one from a couple of years ago. ( The Ultimate LiveJournal Obsession TestCollapse ) | |
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Joy and wonder first. Driving up Spring Street in downtown Atlanta last night, in an area of skyscraper hotels that's usually empty of people and cars after rush hour, there were three horse-and-carriages in the midst of many people and many cars. Glee! As I left church at noon, I saw a monk hop on his motor scooter and drive off, red helmet on and white cassock fluttering. I want a picture of him as an icon. I'm back in a choir! And I didn't have to audition, as the summer pick-up choir functions as an audition. And I can still sightread, not up to professional standards, but well enough to do an anthem a capella that I haven't seen in five or six years (and it was accompanied then). *happy sigh* And my someday post about walking the labyrinth is in its second fermentation rising fermentation, because of several synchronicities that have been popping up, which leads to thoughts of Charles Williams. Hm. Now for the pleasurable seriousness of theatre volunteering. Last night, I worked at True Colors' presentation of Ceremonies of Dark Old Men, by Lonnie Elder III. A black family - father, two sons, and his daughter who is the only one working and earning any money. The father is a story-telling ex-vaudeville dancer, and he and his sons are big with self esteem reasons not to get jobs. The daughter lays down an or-else deadline and then things happen. The first act was funny and deftly done, and the second act was even better. The play is from the 1960's but I didn't realize that until afterwards because it felt so immediate. I'll definitely be continuing to volunteer for them - the House Manager was friendly and efficient, and the other volunteer was a man who'd volunteered at the Tavern and other theatres, so we played Do you know soandso? and Have you been at that theatre? And Gail who works at the Raven's Nest Herbals with me, was there with her husband as patrons. Glee! Again, hardly any white faces in the audience, which is a crying shame. True Colors doesn't have its own space, so was performing at Theatrical Outfit's place - the Balzer Theater at Herren's, next to The Rialto. Off to the Shakespeare Tavern for the Threepeat | |
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Well. my theatrical perambulations are about to be on Pause for a couple of months, since the Georgia Renaissance Festival (or GARF) begins next Saturday, April 14th. My esteemed #2 son and I met Terry at the shop today to help set up for opening.=, and it was cold, cold, cold! The high down there today was 46 F/7C, with wind gusts up to 30 mph, so we couldn't open the shutters and doors to let the sunshine in to warm us up. *shiver* We did get a lot done though. Today was also the cast's final dress rehearsal, so we when we heard a commotion, we all went outside and waved and waved at the Parade going past. They all perked up and waved back -- an audience is a good thing. Did a repeat volunteering at The Hertz for Glengarry Glen Ross Wednesday night to see Maurice Ralston doing his Understudy night, but they were all in the same parts. Still a good show, and the audience caught more of the humor, which shifted it considerably. Thursday night was to have been Aethelred the Unready at Theatre Decatur, but there were too many volunteers there (and cliquishness I hadn't seen signs of before) so I offered to leave, and try again another night. Pity. I hope that theatre can nip that sort of thing before it drives off other, less bloody minded, volunteers. Tomorrow, closing night of Love's Labours Lost, which has been delightful. A grand cast, and I felt good at the end. Gotta go to bed very soon if I'm to attend Easter Vigil at St. Luke's at 6:00 am. Yikes. | |
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I just found out that the priest who made all the difference in my life has been back in Atlanta for a year or so.
He didn't take the stereotypical path in his sermons, or in his advice. In our church, we don't say Alleluia during Lent, and one year he was going on at great length during the sermon about how we aren't going to say the "A word" and a child (not mine) piped up, "Mama, why is he talking about Assholes?" Fr. Payton laughed harder than anyone else, but he never made that particular speech again.
When I was wrestling with marriage problems, he told me to read Morning Prayer every day.
A traditionalist with his head in the sand, avoiding real life? Well, no.
When I wanted a magic word of church-approved wisdom (expecting a speech about promises and vows and my duty), he wouldn't tell me what to do, or how to fix it, but kept asking me over and over, "What do you want?" and wouldn't let me off the hook when I said I wanted it to all be better. Finally, I said the "D" word out loud.
Ah, you say, so he's one of those people who equate doing good with doing what you like? No, because the very next thing he told me in our conversations, was that I had to forgive and not be judgmental. I argued and said I was willing to be judged with the same standard, and that I couldn't pretend bad things hadn't been done, but he was vehement, and quoted the desert fathers to me. I did as he said, and how could I not, when that was the only thing he was commanding about in these advising sessions. Forgiving and not bearing a grudge was the hardest thing I've ever done, but years later, each of my kids has come to me and thanked me for not making them take sides.
So, he became a mentor for years, inculcating a sense of dependency? Hahaha. He cut me off after a few weeks, and I had to find other emotional support. My feelings were hurt, and I felt abandoned, but then I moved on. As it turns out, our denomination actually requires this, unless it is a formal counseling relationship, to avoid that dependency and the other problems that can arise. A couple of years later, he moved to a parish in another state, and I didn't hear of him much after that.
Now, I find out all at once that not only has he been back for a year and a half, but has just been admitted to the hospital for chemo to treat leukemia.
I did find out that he's been associated with our cathedral since he's been back in town, and four of his sermons are online. I think that in this political climate all focused on a "war on terror," that this sermon on Fear is unexpected and better for us all.
I need to write to him and his wife. | |
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I am so very pleased with my new job. It takes less than 10 minutes to drive there, and this fall, when the weather is cooler, I can walk a couple of days a week. The owners are calm and well-organized and ethical. And I have a room of my own with windows right there. Sunlight! Sky! I feel all sorts of knots untieing that I hadn't realized were there.
The bishop of Atlanta has been nominated as the next Presiding Bishop (of the US Episcopal church), one of seven nominees. There is a huge amount of controversy, about the US church having approved the election of an openly gay priest as bishop (in New Hampshire three years ago).
From this morning's Atlanta Journal-Constitution: When Bishop J. Neil Alexander of Atlanta first learned that he had been nominated to become the Episcopal Church's next leader, he thought of hunting season. "When you have an election like this, there are seven of us [nominees] up there. Only one of us is the duck. The other six are decoys," Alexander said. "I don't know whether I'm the duck or the decoy but either way I can get shot, too." Three years ago, NPR was interviewing the then new Presiding Bishop about the homosexuality issue, and he said that he didn't like the amount of time and attention given to it, that there were many other issues, such as poverty and racism and the environment, that Christians needed to be working on.
I love my denomination.
Cut for picspam
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