No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on February 22, 2010

I have one of those weird pains in the back of my hand. It looks like I have bruised the back of my right hand somehow. On my left hand I have a cut and bruise on my index finger in the crease. I need these hands to work for what I want to do this week. I am hoping that maybe some aspirin will help with this.

Still grooving on theater from the weekend. Peter asked me if I missing stage managing shows. There are parts that I do miss but there is a lot that I don’t miss. Theater is hard work and long hours but it can also be the most wonderful time of one’s life. I have plenty of stories to tell from my time in the theater and I don’t regret getting out when I did. I do keep my Equity Card current just in case something drops in my lap. I did find out that I still had a chunk of “Sure Thing” from David Ives’ “All in the Timing” still in my head.

Caroline got up and off to school on time without any problem. She was ready to go back to school. She even had her homework done from before the snowstorms. So we are now back to our schedule barring another snowstorm which now looks like rain that should get rid of the rest of the snow. I will say that the ground feels super saturated when walking on it.

So the US beat Canada at Hockey in the Olympics. That was a bit unexpected. We are still up in total medals but Germany is catching up rapidly. I might watch tonight or I might catch up on the DVR a bit. Depends what they are showing tonight.

I am grateful that Caroline came home safely yesterday and happy from her adventure.

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Posted By Kathleen David on February 21, 2010

With Caroline off on her adventure in Connecticut, Peter and I decided to see some Broadway Theater. I don’t think we could have seen two more contrasting plays if we tried. Both have single syllable, four word titles and that’s about it. One is a musical and the other a play. One was written in the 1960 and the other in the 2000. One deals with harmony and the other with disharmony. One has nudity and the other doesn’t.

Hair was brilliant all be it a little dated. I heard a mother explaining to a daughter in the restroom line what a draft card was and why burning it was such a big deal. I knew but I remember when we switched to a volunteer system. Now one has to register but it doesn’t mean anything other than you might be called up if they reinstate the draft which isn’t happening anytime soon. The current Tribe is very much into their show and they make sure that the audience is too. Peter and I did go dance on stage at the end but apparently the video was FUBARed by gremlins so there is no record of it which is too bad because it was fun to do. I got hugged by various cast members and we were able to tell the members of the tribe that sang Peter’s parody song at Broadway Bears that it was up on YouTube.

After the show, we decided to walk over to the Disney Store on 5th avenue only to find out that it is gone or rather moved to Time Square later this year (which I think is a much better place for it). So we walked up to FAO Schwarz instead and have a look around. The Muppet Workshop has added monsters to its mix and they are very cute. It is apparently one of the biggest success stores for FAO with pretty consistent business. We had dinner at a deli and wandered around Times Square until it was time to go see David Mamet’s newest work called Race.

It was a fascinating play as most of Mamet is and the cast was top notch. We had James Spader, David Alan Grier, Kerry Washington, and Richard Thomas. Someone needs to give Kerry Washington a lead in a film or a TV series that isn’t animated, she has such presence on stage and I think she has a great career in front of her. All the actors did very well with what they were given. Mr. Thomas’ character suffered from being the least fleshed out since he was the catalyst for the situation so his character was what Mamet needed him to be to move the plot along. Mr. Spader did a wonderful job but for me that other find of the play was Mr. Grier who I don’t think I had ever seen do drama. He is amazing. His timing is great and you listened very carefully to what he had to say because of such stage presence. I also found out that Mr. Grier and I are both graduates from the dear ol’ YSD. It shows in a good way.

The play itself had its funny moments and its squirm worthy moments just because of the subject material that Mamet hits dead on and spares no punches or feelings in the execution. It is about a very rich white man accused of sexual assault on a black woman who had, until that evening, been his mistress and the law firm he wants to represent him against the charges. Like many Mamet plays, you are left to figure out what is the truth or what you believe to be the truth of the matter is only to have your views challenged again and again as the play unfolds.

The first act flew by and the second act is strong too. During intermission we talked to the people around us about what we had seen in the first act. We could have held a mini-UN with all the contrasting people in that room discussion what we had seen. The bathroom line was very lively as we waiting for a stall to open up. Everyone agreed that it was a good play and needed to be seen. After the show we did the stage door Johnny thing. It was a crush but I was up front getting autographs. Again people were talking about the play with each other and what they had just seen.

I am grateful that I saw both of these plays in the same day. Gave me a lot to think about.

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Posted By Kathleen David on February 20, 2010

Caroline is enjoying her adventure with her sisters. She has petting dogs, played with cousins, and spent time with her other sisters as well as Big Sister aka Ariel. And, for the first time, I am not there to observe it, which feels rather strange. She’s seven now and old enough for these sorts of controlled adventures. She is spreading her wings and learning to fly on her own.

Today Peter and I are off to the city to see two plays which should be quite a contrast. This afternoon we are going to see the musical Hair and then this evening we are seeing David Mamet’s Race. One is a revival and the other a new play. One had music and the other has Mamet speak which can be fun and/or convoluted all at the same time.

I have taken everyone’s advice and used my DVR to my advantage during the games. I am amazed at how many commercials they are squeezing in there. And I will admit to watching curling. I am still a little shaky as to the rules but I did watch it.

Is anyone else watching Spartacus? How about Caprica? (Guilty Secret: I am enjoying Caprica more than some seasons of BSG) How about Chuck? If Heroes ended where it did would you have been satisfied with the ending? Do both Smallville and Supernatural seem to be in a bit of a holding pattern until sweeps?

They are saying we might get snow at the middle of the week which makes it no different than any other week with a Wednesday in it for the past month. The biggest problem these days is in the morning when the snow melt from the previous day freezes over again causing quite a few cases of black ice. However today is shaping up to be a lovely day outside.

I need to go to the fabric store tomorrow so I can execute my idea for the Olympic stuffed critter challenge. I know what I want to do and almost have it worked out in my head. It is due the 26th of February.

So what are you up to this weekend?

I am grateful that Caroline is having a fun adventure.

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Posted By Kathleen David on February 19, 2010

Until they sent out the reminder. And I got one heck of an idea that I now need to execute correctly. Mwahaahaahaaaa. I’ll probably do pictures as I go.

Then onto the objects de arte for LunaCon. Again I say Mwahaahaaahaaa.

We had a very nice dinner last night with Shana, Gwen and Gwen’s beau. Fun conversation was had and Caroline amused the group a lot.

Today is about house cleaning and picking up along with taming the Laundry Monster who is almost done with this week.

Tomorrow Peter and I are going to go into the city and see a couple of shows. Caroline will be off on an adventure with her sisters.

But first to clean and dupe off Project Runway for Ariel.

I am grateful for pleasant dinners.

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Posted By Kathleen David on February 18, 2010

I have been watching the Olympics. Not as consistently as I have in years past but part of that has to do with how little actual contests I am seeing as apposed to all the feel good stories that they are telling. And the analysis and color commentary and going over what may happen or what did happen is just killing it for me. Yes, I did see the Koreans wipe out in speed skating. I saw Shaun White get another gold and do some sick tricks in the half-pipe. I have seen some exquisite figure skating. But I am changing the channel a lot which I never use to do.

This weekend Caroline goes off to Siblings Weekend with her sisters. Peter and I have a couple of days with just us. We have some plans and some theater tickets if it all works out. She has had overnights with her cousins and with my parents before. She had been taken care of by Shana while Peter and I were off on a trip. So going away from home and staying somewhere else are not foreign to her. She is looking forward to her time with her sisters. I will miss her a lot but I know that she is old enough to go off on these sort of adventures. She will also be seeing her paternal grandparents, her aunt and uncle, and her cousins so it will be good for them too.

I have one of those cricks in the neck that happen when you sleep funny. It is making my head turning a little difficult or more difficult than it usually is since that side of my neck doesn’t turn correctly anyway due to an injury back in college. I am hoping that aspirin will take care of it. If not, then I am going to try the heating pad.

I am really thinking about setting up an Etsy shop for the puppets and dolls. I need to do some research as to how to do this and I have been told that the online FAQ is very user friendly. I just have to take some pictures and figure out some prices. My hurdle is really selling myself and my work. I am very good as selling other people’s work but I tend to be shy about mine. Something to think about.

Something I worked on but can’t talk about yet is being bandied about and any good thoughts, prayers, and/or energy would be appreciated. It would be nice to have something go my way on a professional level.

The sun is out today. Makes sunglasses a necessity when stepping outside. The snow is melting even though the temperatures are low. My bigger concern is black ice this evening and a few very large icicles hanging from the house.

I am grateful for the parts of the Olympic games that interest me.

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